He travelled 100 miles to take his revenge but was stopped by kebab shop staff

The thug carried a knife to Liverpool all the way from Birmingham and attempted to stab his former boss

Kebab shop workers came to the rescue of a shopkeeper when a disgruntled former employee tried to stab him in the street. Murugesan Annamali travelled to Liverpool from Birmingham in possession of the knife in order to enact his revenge attack.

The incident came months after he demanded money from his victim and warned him “you’ll see what I do”. A judge today commended the “bravery” of the takeaway staff, saying: “I am sure that the swift intervention of those people stopped a much more serious incident from occurring.”

Liverpool Crown Court heard on Tuesday, November 4, that complainant Thevanan Mahendran is the owner of a convenience store on Green Lane in Tuebrook, with Annamali having apparently called him around three months prior to the incident.

He reportedly requested money, stating “you will have to give the money to me or you’ll see what I do”. The ECHO understands that the 52-year-old defendant, of no fixed address, had previously worked at the shop in question.

Paul Blasbery, prosecuting, described how there had been “no subsequent interactions since that occasion” until, shortly after 8.30pm on September 4 this year. Mr Mahendran was walking back to the store from his car when he “heard someone running behind him”. When he turned around, he then saw Annamali “running towards him holding a large knife”.

Mr Mahendran was said to have been “scared for his life” and responded by screaming and pushing the other man away as he “thrust towards him with the knife”. The assault was said to have continued even after Mr Mahendran fell to the floor, suffering a cut to the left knee and injuries to his arm and hip.

But Mr Blasbery said: “Fortunately, members of staff from the kebab shop next door ran to his assistance and restrained the defendant. They also managed to take the knife from him.”

Referencing CCTV footage of the incident, Mr Blasbery added: “He can clearly be seen holding the knife in question. He can clearly be seen making thrusting motions towards the victim. He is up close to the victim. The victim falls to the floor. Thankfully, there are no significant injuries which are imposed as a result.”

In a statement which was read to the court on his behalf, Mr Mahendran said that he had been left in “pain throughout his whole body” as a result of the incident. He also stated that he has “considered moving to a different area” due to fears that his assailant will “commit further attacks on himself and his family”.

Having been detained by the takeaway staff, Annamali made no comment under interview following his arrest. Celine Kart, defending, told the court: “Mr Annamali is an individual who was not previously known to the courts. He is an individual of hitherto good character.

“I do submit that he is remorseful, or, at least, his rehabilitation is in its infancy and has begun. Your honour will have noticed Mr Annamali’s deprived background prior to moving to the United Kingdom and while in the United Kingdom. With that being said, he has worked and is a man who can work. He has limited education, but aspires to be employed upon being released from custody.”

Annamali, who was assisted by an interpreter during the hearing, admitted attempted wounding with intent and possession of a bladed article in a public place. Appearing via video link to HMP Liverpool wearing a grey prison issue jumper, he was jailed for 40 months and handed a 10-year restraining order.

Sentencing, Judge David Potter said: “You had travelled from Birmingham to Liverpool in possession of a knife with a blade of approximately 7cm. Fortunately, he was not wounded by the knife that you were intending to use upon him, but he suffered cuts bruises and pain from being attacked and falling to the floor.

“Very fortunately, your actions were seen by workers at a kebab shop. Bravely, they came out of the store and restrained you, and one of them took the knife from you. I am sure that the swift intervention of those people stopped a much more serious incident from occurring.

“This was an attack that was premeditated. You had come a considerable distance with that knife, intending to confront Mr Mahendran, as you had threatened to do months earlier. It is only through sheer good fortune, and no element of judgement on your part, that you are not facing a much more serious charge than you are today.

“The pain that he sustained will no doubt eventually subside, but the mental impact on him of being confronted at night by a man wielding a knife will, I am sure, live with him and his family for a long time to come. It has understandably left him feeling vulnerable in a shop, serving the community as it does, at all hours of day and night.

“One can well imagine why Mr Mahendran and his wife and family have considered leaving the area for fear of further attacks. This was a revenge attack, premeditated, with you carrying to the scene, from a considerable distance away, a highly dangerous weapon in the form of a knife.”