Manhunt Launched for Asylum Seeker Who Fled Court After Guilty Plea
A major manhunt has been initiated across the United Kingdom to locate an asylum seeker who admitted to a vicious attack on a friend before absconding from court during a lunch adjournment. Mustafa Al Mbaidin, a 29-year-old Jordanian national, pleaded guilty to one count of wounding at Bournemouth Crown Court but then vanished, violating strict bail conditions that required him to remain within the court building and its car park.
Details of the Violent Assault
The court heard that Al Mbaidin brutally assaulted his friend, Muhammed Al-Aseel, on January 24, 2025, after consuming Champagne throughout the day. The incident occurred while both men were assisting Sophie Burnett with moving into her new residence in Southbourne, Dorset. According to prosecutor John Dyer, Al Mbaidin became aggressive after making unwanted advances toward Ms. Burnett, who asked him to leave. When Mr. Al-Aseel intervened to encourage his departure, Al Mbaidin launched a ferocious attack.
The assault involved headbutting, placing the victim in a headlock, and repeatedly striking him around the head with both a bottle and a metal kettle. The force was so severe that it left a visible dent in the kettle. Mr. Al-Aseel sustained profuse bleeding from the wound and required immediate treatment from paramedics at the scene before being transported to a hospital for further care.
Witness Trauma and Courtroom Escape
Sophie Burnett, who witnessed the attack, described it as "the most horrific physical assault I have seen in my life." She recounted blood splattering up the sides of her kitchen, leaving both her and Mr. Al-Aseel in a state of extreme fear. The psychological impact was profound; Ms. Burnett disclosed that she underwent eight months of counselling with a trauma specialist and was unable to leave her home for four months following the incident.
Despite pleading guilty, Al Mbaidin failed to return to court after the lunch break, prompting Judge Kerry Maylin to issue a warrant for his arrest. The judge expressed certainty that Al Mbaidin had voluntarily disobeyed bail conditions, noting, "I had a feeling he might not come back. I have observed him in the dock and he has not been a happy individual." Judge Maylin speculated that the defendant may have been overwhelmed by witnesses maintaining their accounts.
Previous Offences and Legal History
This attack occurred shortly before Al Mbaidin was convicted for assaulting two police officers in January of the previous year. His criminal record includes pushing and spitting at Dorset PC Ian Leslie just two weeks after appearing in court for attacking another officer, PC Selina Swan. In the earlier incident, he shoved PC Swan and struck her on the head with his jacket during an arrest for drunk and disorderly behaviour.
Despite these prior offences, Al Mbaidin received a 12-month conditional discharge on July 16, 2024. However, he reoffended 14 days later by getting drunk and causing a confrontation on Bournemouth beach, leading to the assault on PC Leslie. He later pleaded guilty to assaulting an emergency worker and failing to surrender to court bail, resulting in a sentence of 250 hours of community service and a £50 compensation order to PC Leslie. No mention was made regarding his immigration status or right to remain in the UK during these proceedings.
Al Mbaidin, who entered Britain via Turkey, was residing at a hotel in Bournemouth at the time of the offences. Authorities are now intensifying efforts to locate him as the case has been adjourned until Monday, with the warrant for his arrest remaining active.
