Innocent Victim Severed in Sinister Axe Attack as Crime Gang Unleashes Terror in Rochdale Estate
A horrifying incident unfolded on the Newbold Estate in Rochdale in 2017, as an organised crime gang known as ‘Adam’ wreaked havoc on the streets, leaving innocent civilians in fear. A simple road rage altercation quickly escalated into a sinister axe attack, with an innocent victim caught in the crossfire.
Cameron Brooksbank, an 18-year-old tree surgeon, was among a group of colleagues who found themselves targeted by the violent mob as they tried to diffuse the escalating situation. The attack resulted in Cameron suffering the traumatic loss of his hand, severed by an axe amid the chaos.
The orchestrator of this heinous act was Habibur Rahman, a 27-year-old who had summoned the gang to the scene. In court, Rahman showed a disturbing level of hostility, referring to the victims as white b******s who were in his country. One member of the gang, Mohammed Awais Sajid, also known as ‘Skinny’, arrived armed with an axe, while others wielded knives, machetes, a clawhammer, and a knuckle duster.
This violent act was an act of retribution, as Rahman felt disrespected on his territory due to a driving incident involving an elderly woman on Church Road. Shouting abuse at her, Rahman’s anger attracted the attention of Cameron and his colleagues, who bravely tried to intervene. This noble act only served to provoke the mob, who quickly tracked down the victims at a nearby property and subjected them to a vicious attack.
Cameron, still a teenager at the time, suffered blows from the axe to his armpit and wrist as he desperately shielded his head. As the investigation by Greater Manchester Police unfolded, it became increasingly clear that the main suspects were members of the notorious Adam OCG. The extreme violence witnessed during this incident prompted the detectives to launch a comprehensive operation aimed at dismantling the entire gang.
Described as Rochdale’s most significant and violent drug gang, Adam OCG was involved in major drug dealing, widespread grooming of children for drug dealing, witness intimidation, and suspected money laundering. Detective Sergeant Martin Soutter and his team of specialist officers relentlessly pursued the gang, aided by almost a decade of prior investigation.
A recent BBC documentary, titled The Detectives: Taking Down An OCG, shed light on the modus operandi of drug gangs such as Adam. The documentary highlighted their tactics, including bribing witnesses, grooming children, and employing extreme levels of violence to assert their dominance.
The horrifying axe attack was carried out by Skinny, whose real name is Mohammed Awais Sajid. After a lengthy legal battle that concluded in October 2019, he was convicted, not for attempted murder, but for committing a section 18 assault. Sajid was subsequently sentenced to 18 years in prison.
Other members of the gang also faced justice for their roles in the violent disorder. Rahman’s brother, Zillur Rahman, received a three-year prison sentence for conspiracy to commit violent disorder. Arsan Ali, one of those contacted by Zillur Rahman, was found guilty of the same charge and sentenced to four years in prison.
Habibur Rahman, the instigator of the road rage incident, was sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison after the court learned that he had used a knuckleduster to assault one of the tree surgeons. Sajid Hussain, the gang’s boss, pleaded guilty to money laundering charges and was handed a 32-month prison sentence. Rejaul Miah, also known as Reji, and Arslan Ali both received nine-year prison sentences. Another gang member, Jake Stead, was sentenced to seven years and two months. Skinny, already serving an 18-year sentence for the axe attack, was given an additional six-year sentence.
Tragically, earlier this year, Cameron, who had undergone five surgeries over two years to maintain 60 percent use of his arm, lost his life. The circumstances surrounding his death are still being investigated by Rochdale Coroners’ Court, and an inquest is expected to shed light on this unfortunate event.
In response to the documentary, Cameron’s grieving family issued a statement expressing the enormous void left by his death. They also praised the bravery of the police officers who tirelessly worked on Cameron’s case, often placing their lives at risk.
The relentless grip of criminality portrayed in The Detectives gave viewers a chilling view into Rochdale’s criminal underworld. The series showcased the progress made by Greater Manchester Police in their investigation, including a distressing phone call that revealed the extreme levels of violence gangs are willing to employ.
The call featured an anguished woman pleading for mercy, fearing for the safety of her husband, who had been kidnapped by gang members. The gang had also taken their three-year-old child and demanded payment to secure their release. Miraculously, the child was later found unharmed, abandoned on the street. Armed with this information, the police deployed a helicopter to locate the car containing the victim, leading to the arrest of four individuals.
The devastating impact of drug gangs on communities cannot be overstated. Families like Cameron’s continue to be destroyed by the merciless activities of these criminal organizations. Greater Manchester Police remain committed to dismantling such gangs, but the battle against these violent criminals is an ongoing struggle.
The case of Cameron Brooksbank and the Rochdale axe attack serves as a harrowing reminder of the power wielded by organized crime gangs and the urgent need to subdue their malevolent influence.
