On June 16, 2022, a 17-year-old boy was walking down Railway Street when Ahmed Mobarat approached him.

Mobarat had previously sent the victim offensive messages online and continued the abuse in person. The victim walked away after a brief altercation, but was pursued by Mobarat, who stabbed him in the abdomen. The victim had sought assistance at the town’s train station and was being treated by South East Coast Ambulance Service when Kent Police were called. He was taken to a hospital in London for further treatment.

Officers responded to an address on Byron Road and arrested Mobarat. They also seized a knife with blood stains on the blade. Mobarat was later charged with unlawful wounding and having a bladed weapon in public. The 18-year-old pleaded guilty at Maidstone Crown Court and was sentenced to two years in prison on Tuesday, January 31, 2023.

‘This was an unprovoked assault, and it was only by chance that the victim did not suffer a fatal injury,’ said investigating officer PC Catherine Barker. This is an example of the severe consequences that young men face when they foolishly choose to carry and then use a knife.

‘A teenage criminal has begun his prison sentence, while his victim attempts to rebuild his life after a heinous injury. My advice is to reconsider bringing a weapon into a public place; you will most likely spend a significant amount of time behind bars.’