A barrister once lauded as a rising star is now facing a potential prison sentence after being convicted of helping a gangster exact revenge for a shooting. Samreen Akhtar, 37, was found guilty of intentionally encouraging or assisting grievous bodily harm with intent. The conviction places her career in jeopardy and carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
Akhtar, from Huddersfield, is alleged to have used her professional connections to assist career criminal Tabish Ali after he was shot in West Yorkshire. Court proceedings revealed that Akhtar learned the identity of Ali's shooter and subsequently conspired to locate and harm that individual. The motive behind Akhtar's actions, which led her to jeopardize her career and personal safety by aiding Ali, remains unclear.
Conviction and Sentencing
Following a week-long trial at Manchester Crown Court, Akhtar was convicted of the serious offense. She is scheduled to be sentenced on September 7. In addition to potential imprisonment, Akhtar is also expected to face a ban from legal practice by the Bar Standards Council. A spokesperson confirmed that Akhtar has been suspended from practice pending a review by an Interim Suspension Panel.
Akhtar's suspension took effect on July 3, approximately three years after her initial arrest in 2023. She reportedly continued to work as a barrister for months after being charged and up until the commencement of her trial. One legal professional expressed concern that Akhtar was permitted to continue practicing while facing such grave charges related to organized crime.
A Promising Career Undone
Before her conviction, Akhtar was recognized as one of the most promising young barristers on the circuit. She actively spoke out against prejudice faced by young Black and Asian aspiring lawyers and served as a Social Mobility Advocate. She highlighted her working-class background in Huddersfield and credited her father, a mechanic, for his support in her legal education.
Akhtar encouraged other women from minority ethnic backgrounds to pursue careers at the Bar, emphasizing the need for financial support to overcome socio-economic barriers. She urged aspiring lawyers to embrace challenges and persevere through setbacks, viewing them as lessons.
Gangland Feud Context
The gangster Akhtar assisted, Tabish Ali, is himself serving a life sentence for his role in the murder of Jamal Nedd, a member of a rival drug gang. Nedd was killed in a revenge attack in December 2020. Leeds Crown Court heard that a feud between Ali's gang and Nedd's gang involved a series of retaliatory actions, including shootings and arson attempts, as part of a conflict over drug territory. Ali and two brothers were convicted of murder, while another individual received a prison sentence for perverting the course of justice and arson related to disposing of a vehicle used in the murder.