Two men jailed after kidnapping 87-year-old man in Oldham
The pensioner was targeted by Azizur Rahman and Shohad Miah over a prayer ritual performed at Rahman's house
Two men have been jailed for more than 20 years combined after kidnapping and assaulting an elderly man in Oldham.
The 87-year-old was bundled into a car while walking to Oldham Central Mosque on Sunday 15 September 2024, before being attacked.
He was threatened with a knife, stripped of his clothes and dumped 15 miles away in West Yorkshire, before being found by a member of the public.
Police later arrested two men, Azizur Rahman (39) and Shohad Miah (25), who were found guilty of a number of offences following a trial.
In a statement read out in court, the victim said: "Before the incident, I used to go out of the house regularly and speak with members of the community. I don’t go out as often anymore.
"When I do, I feel a great sense of shame over what happened to me. I am well known in the community and lots of people ask me what happened.
"I get a sense from speaking to people that they assume I must have done something wrong to be treated in such a way.
"This makes me feel shameful in my own community.
"The physical impact on me is that I cannot hear as well out of my left ear.
"It feels like I have lost half of my hearing.
"My eyesight in my left eye is weaker than before the attack and I am still having a lot of pain in both cheek bones where the bruising was.
"I also had a tooth knocked out and another one is loose, which causes me pain whenever I eat.
"This is another daily reminder of what happened. I just want it all to go away."
Rahman was sentenced to 11 years and four months after being found guilty of kidnap, robbery, Section 18 assault, non-fatal strangulation and perverting the course of justice.
Miah was sentenced to nine years after being found guilty of kidnap, Section 18 assault, non-fatal strangulation and perverting the course of justice.
Detective Sergeant Rick Bolt, of our Major Incident Team, said: "As an investigation team we are pleased with the sentencings handed out today.
"This was a particularly shocking crime that targeted a vulnerable elderly man, causing him severe physical and emotional trauma.
“This was not a random attack; the victim was specifically targeted due to a prior visit to Rahman's home, where he had performed prayers.
“The swift and thorough investigation by our team, utilising forensic evidence, ensured that these dangerous individuals were brought to justice.
“We hope this sentence provides some measure of comfort to the victim and his family and serves as a stark warning to those who think they can commit such brutal acts without consequence."