A BRUTE still raging that the police had refused to pay for his taxi trip home from Gablecross launched a vicious attack on an innocent cyclist.

Behar Kasemi, who was on licence at the time for an earlier attack on a policeman, used a branch to batter his victim.

Swindon Crown Court heard he told the man he was stealing his bike, chillingly adding: “If you tell I kill you.”

But Judge Jason Taylor QC spared Kasemi an immediate prison sentence, noting that the 47-year-old had been suffering from psychosis, severe depression and amnesia at the time – all mental health disorders that warranted a reduction in the sentence, according to new Sentencing Council guidelines published last year.

He told Kasemi he’d taken an exceptional course because of the defendant’s mental health issues. “I thought that custody was the only option on the table. You have been given a chance; you won’t be given a chance again. Do you understand that?” the judge said.

“You need to make sure you comply with the probation service, you need to make sure you take medication you are prescribed because if there’s any hint or question of you attacking an unsuspecting member of the public again then you will be going out that back door.”

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The stick brandished by Behar Kasemi Picture: CPS WESSEX

Prosecutor Susan Cavender told the court that Kasemi’s victim was cycling home from work down a path between Drakes Way and Shrivenham Road on the night of March 20 last year.

Earlier that day Kasemi had been released from Gablecross police station following his arrest on an unconnected matter. He was said to have been angry that the police had not arranged for a taxi to take him home.

As the cyclist passed by, Kasemi swung the metre-long branch at him. The second blow struck the victim, who was trying to stand up, on the head. He tried to run away, but had hurt his legs as he was knocked from his bike.

The defendant shouted “what you do? What you do?” at him. “Nothing, I’m just trying to get home,” he replied. He was struck again with the branch and felt his wrist break.

Kasemi told his victim: “I take your bike. If you tell I kill you.” Notwithstanding the comment, Kasemi wandered off towards Shrivenham Road without the bike – aiming abusive comments towards staff outside a veterinary practice as he walked away.

Ms Cavender said he went on to follow a 19-year-old woman along Stratton Road. He made vile comments like “you’re the one that I want” and “I will take your trousers off”. When police arrived he refused to drop the stick he was still carrying and was Tasered.

In a victim statement, the cyclist said he still felt shocked about the “completely unprovoked” attack. He’d taken two moths off work to recover.

Kasemi, of Maidstone Road, Old Town, pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm. He was fined by magistrates earlier this year in relation to the comments made to the young woman.

The court heard he had seven convictions on his record for 20 offences, the majority for violence.

Emma Handslip, mitigating, said her client suffered from a number of mental health issues. A psychiatric report suggested he had been experiencing a psychotic episode when he attacked the cyclist.

Kasemi had worked in the past and had offers of employment, but a bail curfew had left him unable to work while he was awaiting sentence.

Judge Taylor sentenced him to two years’ imprisonment suspended for two years. He must do the Thinking Skills programme, 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days and complete a six month curfew.