Asylum seeker case in court after alleged Telford driver assault and bus theft
A 33-year-old Yemeni national is charged with ten offences following a series of alleged incidents, including the assault of a bus driver and the theft of a bus.
An asylum seeker accused of attacking a Telford bus driver and stealing the vehicle in a ‘spree’ of offences will appear in crown court.
Ali Balhad was arrested on Friday in relation to an incident in Madeley the same day.
At the time Police said he is a Yemeni national who had been in the area for around a week.
The 33-year-old, of no fixed abode, was charged with ten offences, relating to incidents on three separate days.
The case was heard at Telford Magistrates Court this morning - Monday, September 21, although Balhad, who had been remanded in custody, refused to appear, declining to leave the cells.
The 33-year-old faces ten charges - aggravated vehicle taking, common assault, attempted grievous bodily harm, driving a motor vehicle dangerously, robbery, theft from a store, threats to kill, and three counts of criminal damage.
The court heard that the threats to kill and common assault on an emergency worker charges related to an incident on September 16, with the theft alleged to have taken place on the following day.
All other charges relate to the alleged incident in Madeley on Friday, September 18.
Deputy District Judge Micaila Williams presided over the case via a video link from Kidderminster Magistrates Court.
No pleas were entered to any of the offences.
The court was told Balhad had entered the country illegally on May 2.
All seven matters relating to the alleged Madeley incident were committed to Shrewsbury Crown Court for a hearing on October 19.
The remaining matters were scheduled for a case management hearing on November 2 at Telford Magistrates Court. Balhad was remanded in custody.
The charges came after chaotic scenes in Madeley on Friday evening, which resulted in armed police being sent to the scene.
Officers had been called to Court Street at around 6.37pm after reports of a bus driver being assaulted.
Later footage showed officers removing a bus from Kemberton Road, after the route had been sealed off.
A fundraiser set up for the victims of the incident has raised more than £6,000.Telford & Wrekin Council’s leader, Lee Carter, spoke over the weekend to express his shock at the incident.
He said: "Like everyone, I was shocked and deeply saddened by this appalling incident and my thoughts remain very much with the bus driver following what must have been an extremely frightening and distressing experience.
“The members of the public who managed to capture the incident and who called the Police deserve huge respect for their bravery.”
He added: “Violence and intimidation of this kind have no place in our communities.
"We will be doing all we can to ensure the driver is receiving all the support he needs as he recovers from this ordeal and have reached out to him personally, as well as the wider community who have expressed their concerns at this outrageous attack."
Wrekin MP, Mark Pritchard has also spoken out about the incident in Madeley and its impact on those involved, and the wider community.
He said: “This is a shocking incident, and my thoughts are with the bus driver, his family, and all those who witnessed this terrible incident.
“These are serious charges, and if convicted, the defendant should be immediately deported.
“Any form of violence is not welcome in our community. Anyone claiming asylum in the UK, who breaks the law, should be deported.
“Telford has good community relations, this awful, but isolated incident, should not undo all that good work.”