Jail sentences following violent Canterbury attack

Two men have been jailed for a combined total of 48 years for carrying out a violent attack with an axe near Canterbury.

Kent Police was alerted to reports of a serious assault that had taken place involving occupants from two cars on the A2 near to the junction for Wincheap on 14 December 2024.

On arrival, officers discovered two men in their 20s and 30s with serious head injuries, including one who had been attacked with an axe. A third victim had managed to escape unharmed and assisted emergency services in administering first aid.

Investigation

Detectives immediately launched an investigation into the attack and established the three victims had been targeted by two men travelling in a silver Mercedes. They had forced the victims, who were travelling in a white Seat, to stop in the live carriageway before attacking them. Further evidence suggested that all parties knew each other.

The suspects fled the scene immediately after the attack.

Arrested

Analysis by officers identified Dawood Khan as a person of interest to the investigation. Khan had left the country for Afghanistan the day after the incident but later returned to the UK on 25 January. The 28 year old was arrested three days later at his London home.

Enquiries also saw Esmatullah Paktiawal arrested when it was established he had returned to accommodation at Napier Barracks in Folkestone hours after the attack, having suffered injuries to his head, back, and hands. The 36 year old claimed these were caused by a fall against a fence but needed to be taken to hospital by ambulance. He was later arrested in Manchester on 23 February.

Both men pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted murder and grievous bodily harm with intent. Their trial lasted six weeks and concluded on Friday 21 November at Canterbury Crown Court, where a jury found them guilty of attempted murder and grievous bodily harm with intent.

On Wednesday 26 November, they were sentenced to a combined 48 years in prison.

Both Paktiawal, of Britannia Place, Plymouth, and Khan, of Westchester Drive, London, received a total of 24 years in prison for their roles in the attack.

Detective Inspector Colin McKeen said:

‘This was a brutal and premeditated attack that nearly took one man’s life. The sentences handed down reflect the severity of the violence used and the wider criminal activity that was being conducted by these individuals.  ‘Kent Police works tirelessly to ensure that violent offenders such as Khan and Paktiawal are held accountable and are unable to escape justice. I welcome the sentence passed by the court and hope it can provide a sense of closure to the victims.'