A man who pelted police with roof tiles during a dramatic rooftop standoff embarked on a ten-day crime rampage after being repeatedly released on bail. Both the beginning and end of Husum Ghnaimat’s disgraceful criminal streak were captured on film.
Stunned bystanders looked on as the 26-year-old perched on rooftops in Selly Oak on March 16 this year. He lobbed tiles downwards, damaging several parked vehicles. One crashed through a skylight and struck a woman on the head.
On March 26 a topless Ghnaimat was filmed being pinned to the ground by two police officers he had assaulted, reports Birmingham Live.
During the period between, he pilfered from two shops, smashing alcohol at one outlet after clashing with staff over halal sandwiches. Ghnaimat, of Hubert Road, was handed 72 weeks imprisonment at Birmingham Crown Court on Monday, October 12 after admitting to 17 offences.
His barrister revealed he was an expectant father with fresh motivation to reform, but the court heard the Home Office now planned to deport the Jordanian national.
Recorder Charles Foster described his offending as a ‘depressing spree of criminality’, declaring: “You are immune to rehabilitation.
“I gain no real assurance you are capable of rehabilitation from the pre sentence report.”
Officers were summoned to Ghnaimat’s address in Selly Oak following reports of him shouting and behaving aggressively, said prosecutor Sarah Slater.
Police arrived but he fled out of the back of his property. Shortly afterwards police were alerted to a man on a rooftop in Bristol Road.
Ms Slater said: “That was the defendant standing on the roof saying ‘I’m going to shoot you, nobody can kill me, I can do what I want’. He refused requests to come down.
“He started to rip rooftiles off the top of the houses and throw them down towards the pavement where there were people and vehicles parked on the street.”
An Audi, Range Rover and BMW were damaged by the flying slates.
One struck a student who had initially ventured outside upon hearing the disturbance, only to be instructed by police to retreat indoors for her safety.
Ms Slater continued: “She was sat on her bed speaking to her housemate when she felt something heavy hit the top of her head.
“She could see shards of glass falling from above. The tile has come through the skylight and hit her on the head.
“She had a panic attack because of this and her head was hurting a lot.”
Ghnaimat was eventually persuaded down, arrested and taken to hospital but made ‘inappropriate comments’ to a female officer assigned to monitor him.
Having been bailed, he nicked £16.50-worth of drinks from a supermarket on March 21.
Ghnaimat was arrested and brought before court, which granted him bail once more.
At 9.10pm on March 23 he found himself in a Nisa Local in Digbeth.
He enquired whether a sandwich was halal before issuing threats to staff, declaring ‘I’m going to kill you, I’m going to kill your family’. At one point he grabbed a bottle and remained aggressive towards the staff before he smashed numerous items.
Ms Slater told the court: “They phoned the police and reported the defendant was being abusive and making threats.
“They did lock the defendant in the shop but that seemed to make him more irritated and angry.
“He continued to smash bottles and make threats. They unlocked the door and allowed him out.”
Officers located him across the road. As they attempted to arrest him he headbutted one of the constables in the chest.
Ghnaimat was granted bail again by the magistrates’ court but a day later police encountered him once more, this time leaping on a Mercedes in Selly Oak.
He warned ‘I’m going to stab you’ before approaching a female officer, causing them to both tumble into a set of shop shutters.
Ghnaimat shoved her backwards, seized her by the throat and struck out again as her colleague stepped in.
He was eventually restrained while topless.
Ghnaimat admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm, possessing cannabis, seven charges of criminal damage, three counts of threatening behaviour, two offences of theft and three charges of assaulting an emergency worker.
He carried out all the crimes while on either licence or post-sentence supervision following a conviction for burglary in 2025.
Ms Slater said: “He is originally from Jordan. The Home Office confirmed they will seek deportation of the defendant in relation to these offences.”
Ghnaimat has already served six months in custody on remand.
Defence lawyer Sami Jan stated: “The pre-sentence report identifies substance misuse and poor impulse control.
“He’s been in a relationship with his girlfriend for several months. She’s pregnant.
“He has no other family support. The relationship and the prospect of becoming a father are additional incentives to change his behaviour.”