A Birmingham man, Shuaib Al-Azawe, who had been removed from a GP’s patient list due to previous aggressive behaviour, verbally abused and physically assaulted a medical secretary at Ejaz Medical Centre. The incident, which unfolded on May 27 last year, has left the victim deeply affected both emotionally and professionally, a Birmingham Magistrates' Court heard.
Al-Azawe, 30, contacted the medical centre by phone to inquire why he was deregistered, during which he insulted the secretary using abusive language including “suck your mum” and a racial slur. Shortly after, he attended the centre in person, kicked the entrance door, and threw a water bottle at the secretary twice, causing her significant distress.
The victim described feeling “severely impacted, scared and embarrassed” and reported experiencing ongoing anxiety, disturbed sleep, and a sense of insecurity at work since the assault. She also expressed fear that footage of the attack, allegedly recorded by Al-Azawe, might be shared online to mock her.
READ MORE: HMRC Alters Tax Bands, Impacting One Million State Pensioners
READ MORE: ‘Charming’ Upton-on-Severn: The Riverside Gem an Hour from Birmingham
Prosecutor Zuzanna Pogorzelska highlighted the racially motivated nature of the attack and the ongoing fear it has instilled in the victim. Police arrested Al-Azawe shortly after the incident at his nearby home. In court, Al-Azawe was found guilty in his absence of assault by beating and sending offensive messages via public communication.
During sentencing, defense lawyer Mr. Soor detailed Al-Azawe’s struggles with severe mental health issues, including paranoia and emotionally unstable personality disorder (EUPD). At the time, he was not receiving effective medication or support. Since then, Al-Azawe has undergone therapy, changed GP practices, is now on medication, and has moved away from the area to avoid contact with the victim or medical staff.
Al-Azawe has also enrolled in college to study business. Recognizing his remorse, the court issued a 12-month community order, mandated 20 rehabilitation days focused on anger management, imposed 80 hours of unpaid work, and ordered him to pay £100 in compensation as well as a £114 victim surcharge.
This case reflects the profound impact aggressive incidents can have on healthcare workers and raises awareness of the challenges faced by patients with mental health issues.