Man jailed for brutal knife attack on stranger in Peterborough

A man who launched a violent and unprovoked knife attack on a stranger in Peterborough city centre has been sentenced to six-and-a-half years in prison.

Inam Qureshi, 45, targeted his victim at around 6:40 am on July 28 last year, ambushing him from behind as he walked along Bright Street. The unsuspecting man, who is in his 50s and out for a morning walk, was stabbed multiple times—twice in the leg, once in the arm, and once in the head.

After the brutal assault, Qureshi was caught on CCTV walking away from the scene and discarding the knife in a bush on Deacon Street. The weapon was later recovered by Police Dog Vinnie during a search of the area.

Despite his severe injuries, the victim managed to call for an ambulance, which in turn alerted the police. Meanwhile, Qureshi continued his erratic and violent behavior, making his way towards Cathedral Square via Westgate. There, he threw a hot drink over another passerby before chasing him down the street and punching him to the ground.

Armed police eventually detained Qureshi as he exited a shop on Lincoln Road, off North Street. During questioning, he claimed to have no memory of the attack but admitted it was him in the CCTV footage when shown the evidence.

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Qureshi, of no fixed address, appeared at Cambridge Crown Court on March 7, where he pleaded guilty to assault causing grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent and assault causing actual bodily harm (ABH). He was sentenced to six-and-a-half years in prison.

Detective Constable Maisy Napier, who led the investigation, said:

“These were extremely concerning incidents, particularly the unprovoked stabbing, which left the first victim with multiple wounds and lasting psychological trauma. He was simply going about his morning when he was subjected to this horrific attack. Qureshi’s actions were completely unacceptable, and I am pleased the severity of the crime has been reflected in the sentence.”

The attack has left a lasting impact on the victim and the wider community, with police reassuring the public that such violent acts will not be tolerated.