Four men have been jailed for carrying out a knife attack inside a Bedford convenience store that left a victim with serious injuries.
Remus Rotariu, Jerome Ajayii, Amirul Hussain and Jayden Kalyan were convicted following the incident on Iddesleigh Road on Friday, 20 June 2025.
Targeted attack
Bedfordshire Police said the victim was targeted due to links to someone previously involved in an altercation with a member of the group.
The attack is believed to have been carried out in retaliation.
Detectives also uncovered a recorded phone call earlier that day in which Hussain was encouraged to obtain a knife and carry out the assault.
At around 9.30pm, CCTV footage showed the victim entering the shop, followed by a car arriving outside.
Rotariu, Ajayii and Kalyan got out of the vehicle, with Rotariu and Ajayii armed with knives, while Hussain remained in the driver’s seat.
The group cornered the victim inside the store and stabbed him before fleeing. The victim was left with serious injuries.
Evidence recovered
Around 30 minutes later, Rotariu and Ajayii were seen in Elstow changing clothes, which were later recovered by officers and found to be stained with the victim’s blood.
Police also located the vehicle used in the attack abandoned in Elstow and established Hussain had insured himself on it just hours before the incident.
Rotariu, 22, of Conquest Road, Bedford, and Ajayii, 23, of Mile Road, Bedford, both pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm with intent and possession of a bladed article.
Rotariu was sentenced at Luton Crown Court to three years and nine months in prison, while Ajayii received three years and seven months.
Hussain, 27, of Elstow Road, Bedford, was found guilty of grievous bodily harm with intent and sentenced to five years and six months.
Kalyan, 22, of Aire Walk, Bedford, pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm and possession with intent to supply Class A drugs, and was sentenced to five years and seven months.
Detective constable Adam Geary, from Bedfordshire Police’s Boson unit, said: “This was a brutal and brazen attack, carried out with a clear intent to cause serious harm and a complete disregard for the risk posed to other members of the public.
“There is absolutely no place for knives or violence on our streets, and we will relentlessly pursue those who threaten the safety of our communities.”
