AN angry brother carried out a religiously aggravated attack on his sister’s non-Muslim boyfriend.

But Vajid Ali has avoided an immediate prison sentence for the attack, which left Rolf Fantom with a wound to his head.

Bradford Crown Court heard yesterday that 24-year-old Amreen Bibi was so worried she had sought the advice of the police before she revealed her previously secret relationship with 30-year-old Rolf Fantom to her parents.

Prosecutor Dave Mackay said the couple were planning to move in together with a view to getting married, so in August they decided to tell Miss Bibi’s Birkby family.

They took Mr Fantom’s sister with them while another male friend followed in order to keep an eye out for trouble.

But Miss Bibi’s parents became extremely upset during the conversation outside their home in Bay Hall Common Road, Birkby.

When her younger brother Vajid Ali turned up he wanted to know who Mr Fantom was.

Prosecutor Mr Mackay said: “He confirmed that he was Miss Bibi’s boyfriend.

“The defendant then produced an extendable baton which he flicked out and struck Mr Fantom once on the head.

“That blow caused a large cut.”

Mr Fantom, Miss Bibi and his sister all got back into the Suzuki Swift vehicle to leave, but Ali struck the driver’s window with the baton, causing it smash.

He hit Mr Fantom on the shoulder as they tried to leave. Mr Fantom managed to drive away, but he was bleeding so heavily that his sister took over and he was taken to hospital where he had 12 stitches put in the wound to his head.

Mr Mackay said: “Mr Fantom has been left with a scar but it is in the hairline.

“Both he and Miss Bibi have been worried about the repercussions and it has affected their work lives.”

Ali, who has been living at a bail hostel in Hull, admitted charges of religiously aggravated wounding and damaging property.

Barrister Timothy Stead for the 22-year-old said his parents were desperately upset and crying when he arrived at the house.

“In no way seeking to justify what he did, this was a highly distressing situation for him not least because of what it was doing to his parents,” said Mr Stead. The court heard that Ali had told his barrister: “If I see him now I will probably apologise. She has made her decision. She has to get on with her life.”

Judge Peter Benson said it was a difficult case involving a man arming himself before going to what he knew would be a fraught situation and causing a significant injury.

But he said Ali was of previous good character, had pleaded guilty and was remorseful.

Judge Benson told Ali that he had acted in an irresponsible and wicked fashion, but he was persuaded to suspend his 12-month jail term for two years.

Ali will also have to do 240 hours unpaid work for the community.

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