A Maidstone man endured a terrifying ordeal at the hands of two violent robbers who subjected him to nearly an hour of brutal torture in his own home. Bader Mohamed and Lewis Rowley have been sentenced to a combined total of over 20 years in prison for the savage attack, which left the victim with severe injuries.
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The harrowing incident unfolded on the evening of June 9, 2024, when Rowley knocked on the victim’s town centre flat door, deceptively asking to borrow milk. Once inside, he and Mohamed launched a vicious assault, demanding cash and ransacking the property.
The victim was dragged around his flat, repeatedly struck on the head with a bottle, punched relentlessly, and stamped on so forcefully that he lost two teeth. Mohamed further escalated the violence by attempting to choke the victim with a piece of string.
The 45-minute ordeal only ended when the pair fled. The victim, managing to escape, ran outside for help. Upon returning to his flat, he discovered Mohamed attempting to start a fire in a bedroom. Mohamed fled again, but was quickly apprehended by police nearby. Rowley was arrested the following day.
The victim required surgery for his extensive injuries and later positively identified his attackers in an identification process. CCTV footage from a local supermarket corroborated the victim’s account, showing Mohamed purchasing a bottle of vodka, matching one found at the crime scene.
Despite denying any involvement, both men were found guilty by a unanimous jury at Maidstone Crown Court. Mohamed, 37, from Barking, Essex was convicted of assault with intent to commit robbery and causing grievous bodily harm with intent. Rowley, 25, of no fixed address, was found guilty of grievous bodily harm.
On February 20, 2025, Judge sentenced Mohamed to 12 years in prison, with an extended four-year license period upon release. Rowley received a 10-year sentence, with a three-year extended license period. The judge deemed both men “dangerous,” requiring them to serve at least two-thirds of their sentences before being eligible for parole. The judge also commended the police for their thorough investigation.
Barbaric and senseless
Detective Constable Josh Littley said:
‘Mohamed and Rowley subjected their victim to an unimaginable and utterly barbaric ordeal. The victim was convinced he was going to die, particularly when Mohamed was choking him and he was fighting for his life. He was left suffering some horrific injuries which also included a fractured skull.
‘This was an entirely unprovoked and senseless attack, which to this day continues to have a profound impact on the victim’s life, who has been left feeling scared, angry and vulnerable.
‘I only hope these significant sentences will go some way to helping him continue to rebuild his trust and confidence in people and that he can once again feel safe within his own home.‘