Leicester Man Jailed For Life

27 March 2018, 14:57 | Updated: 27 March 2018, 14:58

A hit-and-run driver has been jailed for life after deliberately running down a Muslim woman in Leicester.

Paul Moore attempted to kill Zaynab Hussein with his Volkswagen Up on September 20 last year in Leicester and also narrowly missed a 12-year-old schoolgirl - in "revenge" for the London 7/7 bombings and the Parsons Green Tube station attack.

Ms Hussein, 47, was struck once in Acer Close and then driven over again moments later as 21-year-old Moore, who had told a relative he intended to target Muslims, was seen laughing.

He then tried to cause the 12-year-old serious harm moments later by driving at her on Butterwick Drive because he wanted to "do the country a favour".

Moore, of Letchworth Road, Western Park, Leicester, was convicted by a jury on March 2 of attempted murder, attempted grievous bodily harm with intent and dangerous driving.

In front of a packed public gallery on Tuesday, Moore, flanked by four dock officers, looked up at the ceiling as the sentence was passed.

Wearing a blue sweatshirt and blue jogging bottoms, the defendant was supported by four family members - two of whom left the court as he was handed a 20-year minimum jail term and a lifelong disqualification from driving.

At Nottingham Crown Court, Mr Justice Soole told Moore: "The courage of your victims, and the compassion and courage of all those who came to the aid of Mrs Hussein in different ways - and who notably come from across the diverse range of this local community - stand in stark contrast to your wickedness that morning.

"All pedestrians were at risk from you that morning. However, the fact remains that you ultimately launched your assault on those who were in Islamic clothing.

"Your intention to kill Mrs Hussein was underlined by your wicked decision to return for a second assault with the car. It was only luck and her quick thinking that saved your second intended victim from injury.

"In circumstances where you have shown no remorse and where there is reason to believe that you may have taken satisfaction from what you did, the alternatives of an ordinary determinate sentence or an extended determinate sentence would provide inadequate protection to the public."

In Ms Hussein's victim impact statement read to the court by prosecutor Jonathan Straw, the Somali national said she has been bed-bound since the incident.

The statement read: "I have limited mobility. I can only get to the toilet with the assistance of a walking frame.

"I feel I have lost my independence. It is not something I am used to and I do not want to be dependent on others.

"This is really upsetting and hurtful - it is affecting my happiness.

"My younger children come into the room and ask, 'when are you going to start walking again?'.

"I physically cannot go outside, but even if I wanted to I wouldn't.

"I don't understand why someone would want to hurt me - especially somebody I have never met."

Steve Newcombe, defending Moore, said: "There is nothing in his background to suggest that he has held a grudge against Muslims and people of any other faith."