Man jailed for slashing dozens of tyres in Stamford Hill

Hannah Al-Othman29 November 2015
WEST END FINAL

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This is the moment a man slashed dozens of car tyres in one of London's largest Jewish communities in a shocking spree of vandalism.

Huseiyn Seyfi, 29, was jailed for five months and ordered to pay more than £5,000 in compensation after he vandalised 40 cars in the Stamford Hill area, in what community leaders believed was a targeted attack.

However, while Seyfi of Atherton Road, Ilford, pleaded guilty to criminal damage at Snaresbrook Crown Court, he denied the attack was racially or religiously motivated, and he was found not guilty of committing racially or religiously aggravated criminal damage by a jury after a trial.

Community leaders have welcomed the decision to send a Seyfi to prison, but said many victims still feel they were personally targeted.

Weapon: dozens of car tyres were slashed
Metropolitan Police

The CCTV footage of Seyfi slashing the vehicles' tyres was obtained by Shomrim, a volunteer community security group.

Barry Bard, coordinator at Stamford Hill Shomrim, said: "While the community welcomed his conviction, members believe that the attacks were targeted and anti-semitic, the Court obviously need to be certain beyond reasonable doubt in order to convict, however that doesn't change the view of many of the victims, who clearly saw it as a targeted and anti-Semitic crime due to the area and specific vehicles that were targeted."

Jailed: Huseiyn Seyfi
Metropolitan Police

The spree of vandalism was carried out in Darenth Road on November 15 last year, and while Seyfi and another man managed to flee the scene in a car, the vehicle was later traced to his home in Ilford.

Mr Bard added: "This was a big incident in the community, with more than 60 victims in a very close area, it caused great concern and worry to many residents in Stamford Hill, especially to those who felt it was targeted against the Jewish community.

"I would like to thank the police for their amazing work in bringing this offender to justice and more so for their ongoing support to the community, especially in these fragile times, with the threat level at severe, and anxiety levels raised after recent world events."

DC Simon Johnston said: “Seyfi caused an extensive amount of damage to parked cars, with 38 owners providing statements. The damage is believed to be in the region of £5,184. He caused distress and upset amongst the victims. His actions have not gone unpunished.”

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