Muammar Al Khadafi

Two men from London who travelled to Newton Abbot with the intention of murdering a relative of theirs have been jailed for a total of 57 years for the brutal attack.

Mohammed Abul Kahir Ali of Stratford and Roger Khan of Eltham, plotted to murder restaurant owner Nasim Ahmed, who was stabbed and beaten with a metal bar at his Newton Abbot home.

The attack was allegedly the result of a sexual offence committed by Nasim Ahmed against a young female member of the family, although no complaint was made to police until after the attempt on his life was made.

Khan was jailed for 30 years, and Ali sentenced to 27 years after both being convicted of attempted murder. Both men had denied the charges against them.

In passing sentence, Judge Cottle said at Exeter Crown Court that "This was effectively an execution. I have no doubt that as you hurried away into the night you believed that you had done more than enough to carry out your joint plan to kill Nasim Ahmed".

Ahmed escaped death in the attack only because his screams alerted his wife and neighbours, and his attackers fled.

He was left suffering from a fractured skull and numerous cuts, and a doctor at Torbay hospital said that "These are the most serious injuries I've seen following and assault in several years"

Both of the attackers and the victim are of Bangladeshi origin, and during the trial it was alleged that the attackers had ordered Ahmed to either pay money or leave the country in relation to the sexual abuse they accused him of committing against the young family member.