A stabbing inside an Indian restaurant in Peterborough at 4am during a fight involving seven men has resulted in one of the group – Mohammed Jamal Qadeer – being jailed for more than three years. The victim was stabbed in the back; another man who struck his forearm with a meat cleaver is still on the run.
He is thought to be Mohammed Khawar, 43, who was the premises licence holder of the Shah Jehan Indian restaurant in Park Road where the fight broke out. Cambridgeshire police confirmed today Khawar is still “wanted in connection with an assault in Park Road on 20 February where a man was stabbed.
“Khawar, also known as Nadeem and Qurashi, could be in the Peterborough area. Anyone who believes they have seen Khawar, or has information on his whereabouts, is urged to call police on 101 or report online at www.cambs.police.uk/report quoting crime reference 35/13365/23.
The incident led to the Shah Jehan restaurant in Park Road losing its premises licence. Peterborough City Council removed the licence from the restaurant following the incident; CCTV evidence was removed prior to police getting there.
Mohammed Jamal Qadeer, 28, was inside the Shah Jehan restaurant at about 4am on 20 February with a group of six other men when a fight broke out between them. Armed with a knife, Qadeer attacked a man in his 30s who was trying to leave the restaurant, stabbing him in the back and leaving him with an arterial bleed.
The victim also suffered a broken arm after being struck to the forearm with a meat cleaver by another man – who is currently wanted by police.
The fracas spilled out into the road and CCTV captured Qadeer chasing after the victim holding a large knife in each hand and attempting to stab him in the chest.
Qadeer, of Padholme Road, Eastfield, was identified by detectives from the CCTV footage and was arrested at a family member’s home on 23 February after he climbed out a window in an attempt to escape from police.
He appeared at Peterborough Crown Court on September 19 where he was jailed for three years and nine months after previously pleading guilty to assault causing grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent and being in possession of a knife in a public place. He also admitted making threats to kill and assault relating to a domestic incident.
Detective Sergeant Karolis Puidokas said: “This was an extremely violent incident which could have had a very different outcome and Qadeer would have been facing a much longer prison sentence.
“Knife crime can have devastating effects on our communities – I would urge anyone who has concerns about someone carrying a weapon to report it to us.”
Peterborough City Council removed the licence from the restaurant in April. A statement issued afterwards explained that “the licensing sub-committee had not believed that the premises were being used to further crime.
“However, in order to promote the licensing objective in question, the sub-committee believed it was necessary to revoke the licence in its entirety. The sub-committee therefore revoked the licence for the premises, known as Shah Jehan, 18 Park Road, PE1 2TD.
“Any party in objection to the decision may appeal to the Peterborough Magistrates Court within 21 days of receiving this formal notice at: Peterborough Court House, Bridge Street, Peterborough, PE1 1ED.”
The committee noted that:
- On 20th February 2023, at approximately 5am, a serious incident occurred within the premises which resulted in two males suffering knife injuries.
- The premises licence holder, Mr Mohammed Khawar, was suspected of being involved in the incident and had not been contactable since the incident.
- Section 11.28 of Guidance (issued under section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003) recommends that revocation of the licence even in the first instance, should be seriously considered where reviews arise and the licensing authority determines, that the crime prevention objective is being undermined through the premises being used to further crimes.
The subcommittee felt that “where reviews arise and the licensing authority determines that the crime prevention objective is being undermined through the premises being used to further crimes, it is expected that revocation of the licence – even in the first instance – should be seriously considered.
“It is the function of the licensing to take steps with a view to the promotion of the licensing objectives and in this instance, the prevention of crime and disorder, in the interests of the wider community and not those of the individual licence holder.
“The viewed the incident as serious, and that it had undermined the licensing objective of the prevention of crime and disorder.
“The committee considered revoking the licence; suspending the licence; removing a licensable activity from the licence; and attaching conditions.
“The committee noted that the licence holder was not present nor was a representative of his.
Licensing officer PC Paul Hawkins told the committee: “The premises licence holder Mohammed Khawar is suspected of being present and one of the persons involved; despite attempts to speak to Mr Khawar he has not been contactable since the incident.
“The premises CCTV hard drive / recording device that was in existence prior to the incident has been removed prior to police attendance.
PC Hawkins said: “It should be noted that the Gulzar Ahmed who was the designated premises supervisor (DPS) at the time of the incident but not present, has since resigned as DPS.”
He said that Cambridgeshire Constabulary “as a responsible authority recommends revocation due to the seriousness of criminal activity identified”.
The committee heard by way of background, that a conversion application (grandfather rights) of a justices ‘off licence’ was made by Mohammed Saghir and granted in August 2005.
The licence was transferred to the current licence holder, Mohammed Khawar, on 1 July 2020 and Gulzar Ahmed was the DPS.
The restaurant had an alcohol licence for consumption on the premises and the provision of late-night refreshments premises licence.
