A YOUTH who was involved in a “vicious, terrifying and sustained” machete attack, which cost a father-of-four his life, has been given six years detention.

Sajed Choudry suffered a raft of horrific injuries after an outburst of violence near his Blackburn home in November 2018, which led to his death.

And his son Ahsan was left with “life-changing” wounds to his hand after he was hacked with a machete by Sadaqat Ali, Preston Crown Court was told.

Yesterday a Blackburn boy, who participated in the attack but cannot be named for legal reasons, was sentenced after being convicted of Sajed Choudry’s manslaughter and unlawfully wounding Ahsan Choudry.

Mr Justice Dove rejected an application by the Lancashire Telegraph to lift reporting restrictions, barring the identification of the youth, on the grounds he believed this would pose a significant risk to the prospects of the defendant’s eventual rehabilitation.

Passing sentence, he said: “While there is an element of misfortune in finding a person of your tender age before this court, to be sentenced for these serious criminal offences, this is as nothing compared to the tragedy that has befallen the Choudry family.

“Sajed Choudry, a beloved husband, father and son, was brutally murdered.”

The judge said said he accepted that the youth had not landed any of the blows which caused the death of Sajed Choudry or caused serious injuries to his son, who was said to have been “barbarically” pursued by the older men.

And he insisted it was clear from the jury’s verdicts that there was no intention on the boy’s part to cause Sajed Choudry’s death or serious injury to Ahsan Choudry.

But Mr Justice Dove noted that the youth was still armed, on the night in question, and could be observed encouraging and supporting the violence inflicted on the pair. 

Peter Wright QC, defending, said his client had no previous convictions and was thought of highly by all who had come into contact with him.

“The effects will be profound, if he receives a custodial sentence, which will be the first one he has ever encountered,” added Mr Wright.

The court heard that the defendant had been remanded into local authority foster care, as a result of the proceedings, which had already caused him to be disconnected with his family.

Mr Justice Dove, at a previous sentencing hearing for the youth’s co-defendants, imposed prison sentences totalling more than 100 years.

The Bolton News:

Sadaqat Ali, Rafaqat Ali, Fazal Illahi and Syed Ali Akbar, each convicted of Sajed Choudry's murder

Four men jailed for total of 100 years for the murder of Sajed Choudry

Sadaqat Ali, 36, his brother Rafaqat Ali, 38, their father-in-law Fazal Ilahi, 63, and another man, Syed Ali Akbar, 45, were all sentenced to terms life imprisonment for their parts in the attack.