Man admits street attack on pensioner

Multalib Shaikh attacked 76-year-old Maniben Patel as she walked along a Bradford street on a Sunday morning in February.

Yesterday, he admitted causing the grandmother grievous bodily harm with intent.

The 24-year-old, of St Andrew's Villas, Listerhills, Bradford, had originally faced a charge of attempted murder but his guilty plea to the alternative charge was accepted by the prosecution.

Shaikh is understood to have attacked his victim with a piece of metal. Jonathan Sharpe, prosecuting, said the victim had lost an eye as a result.

Shaikh's lawyer, Michael Reeves, told the court he accepted what he had done but denied having any intent to kill.

The court heard Shaikh had a lengthy psychiatric history but had handed himself in to police after the attack saying he wanted to be stopped from behaving again in the way he had.

Judge Peter Benson remanded Shaikh back into custody after ordering reports on him.

"The circumstances of the offence are very serious and disturbing and the court will be considering the possibility of an indeterminate sentence in your case," he told Shaikh via a video link to Wakefield Prison.

Shaikh will be sentenced in July.