Four men jailed for knife attack in Bedford shop
Gang sentenced after targeted assault leaves man seriously injured
Four gang members from Bedford have been sentenced to a total of more than 18 years for a knife attack inside a local convenience store on Iddesleigh Road.
Remus Rotariu, Jerome Ajayii, Amirul Hussain, and Jayden Kalyan carried out the assault on 20th June 2025, targeting the victim due to his association with someone involved in a previous altercation.
The attack was believed to be in retaliation, with detectives uncovering a phone call in which Hussain was encouraged by an incarcerated individual to obtain a knife and execute the assault.
CCTV footage showed the victim entering the shop shortly after 9:30pm, followed by a speeding car arriving with Rotariu, Ajayii, and Kalyan soon emerging—Rotariu and Ajayii were armed with knives, while Hussain stayed in the car.
Inside the store, the victim was cornered and stabbed in front of witnesses, suffering serious injuries before the attackers fled in the vehicle.
Later, Rotariu and Ajayii were spotted in Elstow changing clothes, with police recovering the blood-stained items left behind.
The vehicle was tracked and abandoned in Elstow, with evidence suggesting Hussain had insured the car hours before the attack.
At Luton Crown Court, Rotariu, 22, of Conquest Road, and Ajayii, 23, of Mile Road, both pleaded guilty to section 18 grievous bodily harm with intent and possessing a bladed article. Rotariu received three years and nine months, while Ajayii was sentenced to three years and seven months.
Hussain, 27 of Elstow Road, was found guilty of section 18 grievous bodily harm with intent and sentenced to five years and six months.
Kalyan, 22, of Aire Walk, was charged with section 20 grievous bodily harm. Additionally, he pleaded guilty to possession of Class A drugs with intent to supply following a warrant in September 2025, earning him a sentence of five years and seven months.
Detective Constable Adam Geary, who led the investigation with Bedfordshire Police’s unit, Boson, stated:
“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.
“These arrests were just four out of over 300 that our Boson team made in 2025, showing our clear intent to make Bedfordshire a hostile place for criminal gangs.”