Teen jailed for attacking woman with knife in Grove Park

The incident took place after an argument between the manager of the assisted living facility on Launcelot Road and one of the tenants, Najma Ali. 

Prosecutor Margaret Anucha said that on December 22 last year Ali smashed up the office including throwing a chair at a TV screen. 

While in the office she also forced entry to the cupboard where knives were kept and was seen taking them back to her bedroom. 

Later that day the victim spoke to Ali about what had happened and explained the house rules to her, the court heard. 

“The defendant became increasingly confrontational and rushed across the room to her shouting shut the f*** up,” Ms Anucha explained. 

Ali had removed one of the knives from her waistband and was holding it as if she was about to stab her. 

The victim put her hands to her face and went to hold the knife, at which point Ali pulled it back and sliced the woman’s fingers. 

Ali was later arrested and eventually pleaded guilty to criminal damage, threatening a person with a bladed article and Section 20 grievous bodily harm. 

A statement read on the victim’s behalf at Ali’s sentencing hearing at Woolwich Crown Court on Monday (September 30) said: “The whole incident doesn’t feel real, almost like it has been a scene from a movie. 

“I feel I’m lucky as I was told the cut was just a few centimetres from me losing movement in my hand.” 

The woman said she fears that Ali will retaliate against her in the future as she knows where she works. 

Najma Ali (Image: Met Police) The court heard that Ali has spent nine months on remand in HMP Bronzefield since this incident. 

Ali has six previous convictions including robbery and racially aggravated harassment, alarm or distress. 

Nicki Roberson, defending Ali, said her client had only recently turned 18 at the time of this incident and there is promise she can turn her life around. 

Judge Philip Shorrock told Ali: “You are still just 18 years of age and as has been observed by your counsel, you’re far from a hopeless case.” 

He sentenced her to one year in prison meaning she will be released on licence immediately as she has already served more than half of that sentence.