TV SERIES RECALLS HORRIFIC ATTACK ON CAMERON
with the axe incident proving an opportunity to charge a number of suspected members for their part in the violent disorder.
Police said organised crime gangs are run and are feared by local communities.
A BBC documentary about the group, The Detectives: Taking Down An OCG, shines a light on how drug gangs such as ‘Adam’ operate – including bribing witnesses, grooming children, and using extreme levels of violence to assert their authority.
The axe attack was carried out by a gangster nicknamed Skinny, real name Mohammed Awais Sajid. Eventually, after a legal battle which ended in October 2019 – two years after the attack – he was convicted of the crime.
Although found not guilty of attempted murder, he was convicted of committing section 18 assault and was jailed for 18 years.
Brother Zillur Rahman, 29, was jailed for three years for conspiracy to commit violent disorder after he admitted making phone calls to summon the gang. And Arsan Ali, 23, who was among those he called and who attended the scene, was jailed for four years after being found guilty of conspiracy to commit violent disorder.
Fellow gangster Habibur Rahman, who instigated the road rage incident, and called Skinny to the scene, was jailed for fourand-a-half years after the court heard he used a knuckleduster to punch one of the other tree surgeons in the face, breaking his nose.
Boss Sajid Hussain pleaded guilty to money laundering charges and was given 32 months in prison by a judge. Rejaul Miah, aka Reji, was put behind bars for nine years, as was Arslan Ali. Jake Stead was given seven years and two months. ‘Skinny’ Awais was given another six years on top of the 18 years he was serving for the horror axe attack.
Police later confirmed that Cameron, who required a further five surgeries in the two years after the attack just to maintain 60 per cent use of his arm, died earlier this year.
It is understood there are no suspicious circumstances involved. Cameron’s case is still being investigated by Rochdale Coroners’ Court.
It is hoped an inquest will be held in due course, which may shed light on the circumstances surrounding his death.
Following the documentary’s broadcast, his family issued a statement, where they said his death had ‘created such a huge and painful void in our lives.’
They also hailed the bravery of the officers who worked on his case and regularly ‘put their lives on the line.’
“This has been the most terrible time for our family, but we are just one, of many, that are being supported by GMP, who are constantly being destroyed by these cruel, merciless drug gangs” they said.