Pair jailed for revenge attack with dog and knives

Leeds Crown Court heard yesterday their victim Dilbir Singh had expected a fight when he arranged to meet Raj Barsran following an earlier incident which had left Barsran with black eyes and other injuries.

Anticipating there might be trouble Mr Singh chose to meet in Swan Lane, Huddersfield, knowing there was CCTV nearby but he did not expect Barsran and Niaz Ahmed to arrive with knives and a dog, Andrew Kershaw, prosecuting, told the court.

Barsran had the dog on a lead and set it on Mr Singh. It gripped him by his ankle preventing his escape.

He was then punched and the pair, each holding knives, struck out with them towards him. At one point Ahmed dropped his knife and stopped to pick it up. Mr Singh managed to pull away on to the road where he was again attacked by the dog, pulling him along the ground on his back as the assault continued.

Eventually Ahmed went back towards their vehicle leaving Barsran continuing his assault before he also left.

Mr Singh was dripping in blood and collapsed when he sought help at a friend’s home nearby. He was treated in Calderdale Royal Hospital for cuts to his head and a laceration in his back as well as injuries to his leg from the dog.

Mr Kershaw said since the incident Mr Singh had suffered nightmares, about the dog in particular.

Mark Brookes, representing Barsran, said earlier that night he had been drinking with Mr Singh and others when an incident occurred in which Mr Singh had thrown drink at him and punched him. “It should have ended there but it didn’t,” he said.

He felt humiliated by that incident, the two had then exchanged text messages and the meeting was arranged.

Barsran, 28 of College Street, Crosland Moor, Huddersfield, and Ahmed, 49 of Balmoral Avenue, Crosland Moor, Huddersfield each admitted wounding with intent and having an offensive weapon.

Sentencing them Judge Geoffrey Marson QC said the earlier incident was “undoubtedly unpleasant” but they then sought revenge setting the dog on the other man so he could be attacked.