Barber attacked victim in the street with scissors during city Pride festival

A Lincoln barber shop owner who chased a man down on Lincoln High Street and stabbed him with scissors has been jailed for eight years.

Star Hamadameen Mama, 38, from Lincoln, was sentenced following an attack on the High Street, Lincoln on Saturday, September 29, during Lincoln Pride festival.

The victim, a man aged 28, reported he was approached by Star Hamadameen Mama on the High Street.

Mama was shouting at him aggressively before pushing him backwards. A fight broke out and Mama used a pair of barbers scissors, pulled from his back pocket to stab the victim before chasing him into the road, kicking and swinging the scissors towards him.

The fight ended when people from nearby shops intervened.

The victim suffered a 5cm deep wound to his left shoulder and close to his chest, a 7cm cut to his left forearm and a 1cm cut to his finger.

He received treatment at the Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham.

During the police interview, Mama denied using scissors to attack the victim and believed he might have used some keys that were in his pocket.

Courts heard CCTV footage was obtained which showed the assault and captured Mama walking back to the barber shop immediately after the fight with a pair of scissors in his hand.

Mama told Lincoln Crown Court he found text messages, sent by the victim, about him, to be highly offensive to Kurdish people and their culture.

He said this made him very angry and he had left the barber shop, where he worked, to speak with the victim. He said he had not shown any aggression towards the victim but it was the victim who had attacked him and he was defending himself.

Mr Trustian Lody, defending, said Mr Mama had established a business and provided work to local people in his barber shop. He was a family man who was well liked in the community.

Following a trial, the jury found Star Hamadameen Mama guilty of causing grievous bodily harm with intent. He was sentenced to eight years in prison.

Sentencing Mama, Judge Simon Hirst, said: “Any thought that this was a key is just nonsense”. He went on to describe how Mr Mama had pursued the victim into traffic on High Street, and it was clear from the CCTV footage shown in court that the victim was attempting to run away.

Detective Constable Richard Gray, Investigating Officer, Lincolnshire Police, said “This was a busy Saturday afternoon, the city was celebrating a day of equality and respect with the Pride Festival.

“I have no doubt that this fight, which broke out in front of passers-by and motorists on the city’s High Street, was horrific to watch. The victim sustained a significant wound to his left shoulder which very narrowly missed his chest cavity. In addition, he had cuts to his arm and finger which appear to have been sustained as he tried to defend himself as he was pursued by Mr Mama between moving traffic before others started to intervene.

“I would like to praise the victim for the way he has conducted himself throughout this difficult case, as well as thank the witnesses who assisted the investigation. I can say this sort of incident is not a reflection of our city and county as a whole, and I urge people to carefully consider how they seek to settle their differences, whatever they may be.”