Jailed: Hammer-wielding man imprisoned two women in Wolverhampton medical centre for 20 minutes
A man who wielded a hammer concealed under his jacket at a Wolverhampton medical practice and imprisoned two 'terrified’ women - including his own interpreter - in a surgery for 20 minutes has been jailed.
Mohammad Haydari went to East Park medical practice with his interpreter on April 7 last year seeking a fit note for the benefits he was on.
But when he was directed into a surgery and asked why he had attended by a health worker said: ”You tell me why I am here and nobody is helping me."
Wolverhampton Crown Court heard he became agitated and raised his tone, and lifted his jacket to reveal a hammer which he threatened to smash into the face of the health worker.
The staff member managed to alert security through her computer but he again threatened to 'harm' her and the interpreter before saying 'nobody is getting out' and locking the door, placing a chair in front of it.
Police attended and the Iranian citizen, who the court heard was already on notice to leave the country from immigration authorities, was arrested.
Victim impact statements from the two women said they were “shaking and extremely scared”, with the health worker having to take the rest of the day off, and the self employed interpreter left fearing she would have to lose hours because of the trauma.
Both said they now suffered heightened levels of anxiety and stress because of the incident.
Justin Holt, defending Haydari, who has been on remanded in prison since the incident, said he had a complex mental health history of 20 years dating back to when he was in Iran and had tried to hang himself recently and would not have anywhere to go if he was not in prison.
He said: "If he is given a prison term he may be deported to serve it although that would depend possibly on the current situation in Iran.
“But if he isn't given a term, he doesn't have many options to get help with his complex needs which have made him vulnerable and have affected his behaviour.”
But Judge Jonathan Gosling said it was a matter for the Home Office whether he would serve his sentence here or in his home country and said he had “traumatised” both women, who both believed they were going to be struck by the hammer.
He jailed Haydari for three years for each count of false imprisonment, the sentences will run concurrently.