Gambler Attacked Disabled Man to Steal £10k Winnings

Gambler Anjum Rahim, aged 39, of Small Heath, Birmingham was jailed for three years and nine months for viciously assaulting a disabled man.

Birmingham Crown Court heard that he attacked the wheelchair-bound man in an attempt to steal his £10,000 winnings after he “lost all of his money.”

On March 30, 2019, the victim had gone to the Grosvenor Casino in Broad Street and won a “substantial” amount of money consisting of £9,000 in cash and a cheque for £1,000.

During his winning spree, Rahim had been following the man around the casino as he played the tables.

The victim used a wheelchair due to a spinal issue he had suffered years before. The man then exited the casino to have a cigarette.

Rahim then approached the man. He told him that he had lost all of his money and asked him for £20 so he could get home.

The victim gave him the money but when the gambler asked for a further £20 he refused.

Peter Grice, prosecuting, explained that Rahim then launched a violent attack on the disabled man. He grabbed the man’s jacket, dragged him out of his wheelchair and they struggled on the ground.

However, the attempted robbery was prevented after two members of the public intervened. The attack was also captured on CCTV.

The attack left the victim with bruising to his shoulders, back and arm.

The court heard that Rahim pleaded guilty to attempted robbery.

Judge Richard Bond told Rahim: “You saw your victim win thousands of pounds. It was obvious to you this man was vulnerable and you have followed him quite deliberately.

“You decided you were going to have it. Out of the kindness of his heart, the victim gave you £20.

“You can see on the CCTV you used substantial violence on your victim desperately trying to get the money out of his jacket.

“You can see the man being dragged around the floor for a significant amount of time.”

Lewis Perry, defending, explained that his client was ashamed of his actions.

He said: “He is truly and utterly ashamed of what he did.”

Mr Perry went on to say that Rahim had worked in the restaurant business but lost his job as a result of the attempted robbery. He added that his client had lost a lot of money on the night.

Birmingham Mail reported that Anjum Rahim was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison.