"You instigated this matter and brought the baton"
The co-founder and managing director of Heavenly Desserts was handed a conditional discharge after admitting to affray during a violent confrontation involving weapons on a residential Derby street.
Yousif Aslam, whose dessert franchise has a reported turnover of £38 million, “struck out with a metal baton” during the altercation in Callow Hill Way, Littleover.
Derby Crown Court heard the incident stemmed from a dispute between neighbours over noisy cars on August 16, 2020.
The court was told that Aslam, prosecuted under the name Muhammed Yousif, “pushed or headbutted” one of three brothers from a rival group and struck the first blow before three of his associates joined him. One of them pulled a machete from his waistband.
Judge James Carter said: “The delay in this matter is down to the (rival group) having a trial and each of them were found not guilty by a jury so it seems to me they decided each of them were acting in self-defence.
“Muhammed Yousif, you started all this by striking the first blow.
“You instigated this matter and brought the baton to the scene but ultimately, you were disarmed and it was used on you.”
Aslam, of Cummings Street, Normanton, was accompanied by Mijanur Mannan, Khuram Akhtar and Majid Latif. All four men admitted affray.
Hal Ewing, prosecuting, said: “It was an affray in the street and various driveways in a residential area of Derby about cars being driven past.
“During the course of the incident, weapons were produced including a metal cosh and a large blade.
“Muhammed Yousif goes across the road and at first, he is not acting aggressively and is waving to the others to go back.
“But it is also right (that) he struck the first blow either pushing or head-butting one of the brothers (in the other group) and then produced a metal extendable baton and struck out with it.
“He is then pushed over in the fight and drops the baton. The other three defendants then come across and one of them (Mijanur Mannan) pulls out a machete from his waistband and starts waving the blade.”
Aslam was given an 18-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £200 in costs. His defence said he was not a violent man and had never been in trouble before or since.
William Bennett, mitigating, told the court: “This is a neighbour dispute of sorts where the other group had been keeping the neighbours awake driving cars and revving engines.
“You may wonder why he armed himself and that is because the other group had something of a reputation.
“He found that cosh in a car park. He started as the peacemaker and when he is approached, he then reacts and uses it himself.
“But he is instantly disarmed and struck to the head, which had to be glued.”
“Yes, he’s the spark but he’s not really the ringleader. He bitterly regrets his actions and has given it a lot of thought since.
“He is a massively impressive man, being the founder of the Heavenly Desserts franchise, which at the time had 34 branches and now has 64 and is branching out internationally. It has a turnover of £38 million a year.”
Mijanur Mannan received a 26-month conditional discharge and must also pay £200 in costs.
His barrister, Mark Knowles, said: “Money is very tight for the family in general.
“Clearly this was a dispute between two families and there has been no repetition of any trouble since.”
Khuram Akhtar was handed a 10-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £800 in costs.
Gregor Purcell, representing Akhtar, said: “He is in employment and his pleas were entered four years ago.
“He and the others have remained out of trouble since. It was a serious matter between families which might have caused some alarm.”
Majid Latif received an eight-month conditional discharge and was also ordered to pay £800 in costs.
Loading ...