A man who carried out a vicious and unprovoked attack on a woman in Brent has been sentenced to over three years in jail after an urgent manhunt by Metropolitan Police officers led to his capture.
Guliwali Stanekzay, aged 22, was found guilty of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and criminal damage. He was sentenced to two and a half years for the assault charge and concurrent sentences for the criminal damage charges. Additionally, he received a 24-week consecutive sentence for breaching a suspended sentence order. In total, Stanekzay will serve three years and one month in jail.
The court heard how the incident took place on Sunday, February 26, at approximately 19.40 on Minet Avenue, NW10. The victim, a woman in her early 20s, was walking along the street and talking on her phone when Stanekzay, who was cycling along the same road, inexplicably began to pursue her. The woman tried to flee, but Stanekzay continued to chase her and forcefully collided with her.
Desperate for safety, the woman sought refuge in a front garden, but Stanekzay followed her and launched a brutal assault. Disturbing footage captured by a doorbell camera showed him repeatedly punching the defenceless woman as she cried out for help.
Fortunately, the homeowner opened the door and provided sanctuary for the victim. However, Stanekzay, in a disturbing display of aggression, attempted to force his way into the house by attacking the front door. He also vandalized a nearby car, causing significant damage.
During the ordeal, the victim managed to contact a relative and inform him of the attack. When the relative arrived at the scene, Stanekzay directed his aggression towards him, delivering repeated blows to his face.
Following the final assault, Stanekzay fled the scene, prompting a comprehensive investigation by the North West Command Unit’s Criminal Investigation Department. Through CCTV footage and the assistance of vigilant members of the public, officers were able to identify Stanekzay as the attacker. However, he was evading capture by frequently changing locations.
Valuable information provided by the public eventually led to Stanekzay’s arrest on Wednesday, March 1. Throughout the investigation and subsequent court proceedings, Stanekzay offered no explanation for his violent actions.
Speaking about the case, DC Jacob Eyres of the North West Command Unit stated, “Stanekzay brutally attacked a lone woman in the street without any provocation. The attack was shockingly violent, and one can only imagine the terror this prolonged assault caused.” He further emphasised the importance of tackling violence against women and girls, urging victims to come forward and seek support from the police.
Both the woman and the man who intervened required hospital treatment, although their injuries were not life-threatening. The damage caused to the car and the house targeted by Stanekzay amounted to thousands of pounds.
