Dagenham man jailed indefinitely for attempted murder of woman and children

Kulvinder Ram, 50, from Dagenham, has been sentenced to a hospital order without limit of time after a violent knife attack on a woman and her two children. The sentencing followed a trial at the Old Bailey where Ram was found guilty of the attempted murders of the woman and a two-year-old boy, and causing grievous bodily harm to an eight-year-old girl.

The attack took place in Dagenham on the afternoon of October 25, 2024. The woman sustained a significant wound to her neck, while the toddler suffered a severe injury to his neck and the older girl had her face slashed. All three victims required surgery for their injuries, which have resulted in lasting physical and emotional scars.

Detention at the scene

An off-duty Special Police Sergeant, Seff Serroukh, detained Ram at the property after witnessing the aftermath of the assault. Mr Serroukh, who was walking home from work, intervened when he saw the woman and her daughter covered in blood. He apprehended Ram, who was larger and heavier than him, and held him until uniformed officers arrived.

The court heard that Ram was suffering from undiagnosed schizophrenia at the time of the attack and was experiencing delusions, including a belief that he was being watched by cameras. He had also made threats to kill one of the victims two weeks prior to the incident. His mental state included paranoia, erratic behaviour, and auditory hallucinations.

Victim impact

Victim impact statements read in court detailed the profound effect of the attack. The woman described the visible scar on her neck as a constant source of distress. Her daughter is left with scarring on her face, and her son has scarring around his neck. The woman stated that while she could bear her own injuries, she found it particularly difficult that her daughter had been harmed.

Detective Constable Lewis Whitlock acknowledged the severity of the case and praised the actions of Special Police Sergeant Serroukh, stating that without his intervention, Ram might have inflicted further, potentially fatal, injuries. The investigation confirmed Ram's intent to kill the targeted individuals.