Spurned boyfriend stabbed his partner and her 11-month-old son

A spurned boyfriend who stabbed his ex-partner and a baby boy in front of three children after she ended their relationship has been jailed for life.

Rehan Khan, 27, repeatedly knifed Salma Sheikh, 33, and her 11-month-old son at her home in Feltham, west London with a purple kitchen knife.

Ms Sheikh was in such pain from her injuries that she later took a fatal overdose of the painkillers she had been prescribed after the attack. 

On the day of the frenzied assault, Khan messaged his estranged lover 270 times before going to her home 30 minutes after sending the last one.  

Cambridge Crown Court heard how Khan barged his way into Ms Sheikh’s home on June 4 last year and pulled out the knife.

He then stabbed the youngster three times in the abdomen before stabbing Ms Sheikh five times as she used her body as a shield to protect her son.

The child was airlifted to St George’s Hospital where he underwent emergency surgery and remained in intensive care for five days.

His mother’s injuries meant she relied on high strength pain killers which she overdosed on.

The court heard a panic alarm was installed by police at her home in February after a series of abusive messages from Khan.

On the day of the attack, Khan stormed through the door after a school friend of one her children had knocked on it.

Judge Sean Enright described the offences as ‘extraordinary’ with only a ‘life sentence being justified.’

He reflected for the children: ‘This would be an episode they will never forget.

‘There are two offences of attempted murder before the court. I have come to the conclusion that after you saw a the doctor you decided to exaggerate or make up symptoms in the hope of getting a lesser sentence.

‘You are dangerous in my view, within the meaning of the statute, particularly to women.’

Khan sat with his hands over his ears with a bowed head as he appeared over video link from HMP Belmarsh.

Felicia Davy, prosecuting told the court: ‘On 4 June 2018, Salma Sheikh, a mother of four, and her youngest, who was just 11 months old at the time, were both stabbed multiple times by Rehan Khan. His intention was to kill.

‘The child was stabbed first followed by Ms Sheikh who was using her body as a shield to prevent further harm to her baby.

‘The court is aware that tragically Ms Sheikh died on 24 September last year.

‘It is believed there was an unintentional overdose of morphine, because of the pain she was still suffering from those injuries, particularly the shoulder injuries, which led to a cardiac arrest.

‘These offences were committed when the defendant was on bail for a previous assault on Ms Sheikh. Furthermore, he had bail conditions not to attend the address.’

He was convicted in May 2018 and placed on a restraining order.

Khan, of no fixed address, admitted two counts of attempted murder on May 13 last year and was jailed for life on both offences.

He will serve a minimum of 16 years.

Detective Constable Tom Bradshaw, who led the investigation, said: ‘Rehan Khan inflicted significant injuries to his former partner and a young child – injuries that would have been worse if not for the quick intervention of emergency services.

‘He also carried out these attacks in front of others who will never be able to forget what they saw that night. We are pleased he has now been brought to justice and will spend a significant amount of time behind bars.’