Rapping illegal immigrant knife raiders attack Lindley couple

Nov 6 2009 by Sam Casey, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Rapping knife raiders face deportation

When he went downstairs, Ibrahim and Tuhmi were there.

They had got in through a small window and repeatedly punched Mr Hartley while threatening him with the knife.

Miss Reilly said: “I heard him shout, so I called the police from my bed. I would have gone down in a flash, but the police told me to stay where I was.

“About 10 minutes later they [the robbers] brought Daniel upstairs and into our room.

“They wanted our phones. They were very threatening and saying things to my partner like: ‘Do you want to die? Don’t think I won’t kill you, I’ve killed people before.

“One of them was rapping, going: ‘I want my sick T-shirts’.”

Mr Hartley added: “To be honest, he wasn’t very good – I don’t think he’ll make it as a rapper.”

The pair admitted robbery and burglary and were sentenced at Bradford Crown Court yesterday. Ibrahim got four years’ detention and Tuhmi two years and nine months.

Judge Peter Benson was told the pair face automatic deportation because he sentenced them to more than 12 months.

Miss Reilly and Mr Hartley, whose housemate Kim Fricker, 24, slept through the episode, praised the police for their speedy response.

Miss Reilly said: “Thank goodness they responded when they did because much longer and those two would have got away. The officers were amazing, kept so calm and had Daniel laughing within about five minutes.”

Mr Hartley, who suffers sleeping problems following the attack, added: “I have been a bit unsure about police in the past, but after what they did I have full faith in them.”

Kirklees Police Detective Inspector Andy White said he hoped the sentences would send out a message.

He said: “This was an unprovoked and particularly vicious attack. However, I would like to stress that such incidents are few and far between in the district.

“Once the officers had received the report they acted swiftly and professionally to catch the pair the in the act.

“I am pleased with the sentences handed down by the courts and it will send a clear message to anyone else considering doing the same – you will be caught and you will face the consequences.”