Illegal immigrant facing deportation after revenge attack on landlord

Rashid Bomedian punched and kicked the owner of the house he was staying at in Whitmore Reans, Wolverhampton, before hurling a bowl of spaghetti at his head, a court heard.

The Moroccan national carried out the attack because his landlord had reported him to police after he had returned home with a stolen bicycle.

On Thursday at Wolverhampton Crown Court, 30-year-old Bomedian was sent to prison for eight months and told by a judge that he would be deported on his release.

The court heard that Bomedian had stolen the bicycle following a scuffle with its owner outside a city restaurant on February 17 and taken it back to the property in Glentworth Gardens.

Mr Howard Searle, prosecuting, said the landlord called the police who arrested him at the scene, but he fled the house when officers asked to see his passport.

Officers launched a search of the area but were unable to find him, he added.

"They tasered him but he still got away," said Mr Searle. "This allowed him to return to the address and confront the homeowner later that day."

The court was told that Bomedian attacked his victim with a volley of kicks and punches, causing him to suffer a swollen cheek, a cut lip and scratches and bruises to his face.

Mr Searle said: "He then threw a bowl of spaghetti over him causing cuts to his face."

Following the attack Bomedian seized his victim's mobile phone and used a mattress to block the front doorway, he added.

He was arrested and taken into custody later that night when police conducted a routine follow-up visit to the address. The court was told that the defendant initially denied committing any offences.

Mr Stephen Cadwalader, defending, said Bomedian had arrived in the UK illegally three years ago after fleeing persecution in North Africa.

He said: "He wanted to make a better life for himself. Things were not good for him there.

"When police tried to arrest him he realised he hadn't got a legitimate passport so he ran off."

Bomedian, of Stratford Road, Sparkbrook, Birmingham, admitted causing actual bodily harm, escaping from custody and theft.

Jailing him for eight months, Judge Michael Challinor told him: "You will serve half of your sentence and the I anticipate you will be deported."