Mosque Bite Worshipper Spat Skin Onto Floor

Biter: Suad Awad

A woman who bit a chunk out of a fellow-female worshiper's forehead at her local mosque - spitting the skin onto the floor - received a suspended prison sentence yesterday.

Mother-of-two Suad Awad, 41, had just arrived at Shepherd's Bush Mosque when she suddenly lunged at extended relative Amina Essa, who is still receiving plastic surgery for the wound above her left eye.

The Somali-born unemployed part-time student, of Conningham Road, Shepherd's Bush pleaded guilty at Isleworth Crown Court to inflicting grievous bodily harm on Ms Essa on May 4, 2013.

"The victim was leaving the mosque after completing her prayers and came across the defendant, who appeared to be entering," explained prosecutor Mr. Nadeem Holland. 

"They are known to each other as members of the same extended family, their grandmothers are sisters.

"Ms Essa could think of no reason there could be bad blood between them, but there was a phone call several months earlier when she was supposed to have made comments about the defendant's husband.

"Ms Essa says the defendant jumped at her and could immediately feel the defendant biting her and heard a crunching noise and heard her spit.

Plastic Surgery: Amina Essa

"She says: 'The blood came down like rain down my face.'

"The defendant attempted to bite her a second time on the nose and Ms Essa moved her head and tried to push the defendant away and as she did the defendant bit down on the middle finger of her right hand.

"As Miss Essa tried to pull her finger away the defendant bit again, holding it in her mouth.

"She was shouting: 'Let go, help, help' and two women intervened and assisted in getting the defendant off Ms Essa."

The victim needs ongoing treatment, which involves moving fat from one part of her body to fill the wound. "At the mosque the skin was spat out," added Mr. Holland.

Awad's lawyer Mr. Andrew Sheriff told the court: "The parties can't assist with the motivation for the attack and the probation report suggests cultural or religious differences.

"There was no pre-meditation, she was not following the victim and it seems to be an accidental meeting and resulted in what she describes as an absolute moment of madness.

"This is a one-off incident in her life and there is remorse shown and no suggestion of on-going animosity. She is the sole carer of children aged seven and five."

Judge Andrew McDowall told Awad: "There's no explanation for what you did. It has been called a moment of madness, but for your unfortunate victim it is going to be a permanent problem.

"You are saved from an immediate prison sentence by the fact you pleaded guilty, that you have family responsibilities, you are of good character and it would be undue punishment on your children."

Awad was sentenced to two years imprisonment, suspended for two years, placed on two years probation and made subject to a three-year prohibited activity, namely contact with Ms Essa.

Turning to the victim Judge McDowall said: "I can only express sympathy towards you and if there were means to give you compensation from the defendant I would.

"I can only give advice that you may be eligible for compensation from public monies, but I cannot make any orders."