Birmingham Burglar Jailed After Chilli Sauce Attack on Pensioner and Son
A brazen burglar’s chilli sauce sting backfired spectacularly in Hall Green on August 26. Mohammed Nawaz, 52, kicked off his robbery by barging into an elderly woman’s home, only to be stopped by her son – and a hero on the street who stepped in to help.
Chilli Sauce Used as Weapon in Shocking Home Invasion
Nawaz, with a lengthy criminal record of 36 offences including burglary and robbery, targeted the pensioner, thinking she was home alone. But her 49-year-old son was visiting and confronted the intruder after Nawaz forced his way past the woman’s door.
In a desperate bid to escape, Nawaz squirted a fiery mix of hot chilli sauce and water from a washing-up liquid bottle straight into the faces of both victims – temporarily blinding the son before fleeing empty-handed.
Good Samaritan Grabs Burglar Despite Fiery Defence
That’s when a passing man, alerted by the woman’s screams, stepped in. Despite also being sprayed with the chilli concoction, he and other bystanders managed to pin Nawaz down until police arrived.
He was arrested on suspicion of attempted robbery and charged with three counts of administering a noxious substance.
Judge Sends Career Criminal Back to Jail for Over Nine Years
At Birmingham Crown Court on November 13, Nawaz, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to nine years and one month behind bars.
“We believe Nawaz saw the woman as an easy target,” said Detective Constable Arita Chonkria. “He hadn’t counted on her son being there or the bravery of the man who tackled him. Thankfully, no one was seriously hurt, and it’s right he’s been jailed.
“We also want to formally recognise the courage of that Good Samaritan once our awards scheme resumes.”
This wasn’t Nawaz’s first chilli-fuelled break-in. Back in 2010, he invaded a 93-year-old’s home in Sparkhill, using the same fiery method before stealing valuables.
