A teenager who stabbed a Syrian refugee in a frenzied attack has been jailed for more than seven years.

Shabaz Ali, 25, was left with life-threatening injuries after Sean Gorman, 18, stabbed him six times in an Edinburgh hostel.

During the attack, Gorman told his victim to "go away from here" and go back to his own country.

Mr Ali lost consciousness and was pulled into a room by his female cousin.

Image: Mr Ali was stabbed six times

When he opened his eyes in a hospital bed three days later, he said to his father: "We ran away from war in Syria. I do not want to die here."


Mr Ali, who is Kurdish, fled Syria five years ago to seek refuge in Scotland.

In Syria, Islamic State killed nine members of his family.

Mr Ali was attacked on 3 May inside the hostel in Upper Gilmore Place, having knocked on Gorman's door and asked him to turn down loud music.

Image: Mr Ali (right) with his father Sivan

The teenager, who had drunk vodka and taken ecstacy and cocaine, stabbed Mr Ali in the upper chest and back.

He sustained serious injuries and required extensive hospital treatment.

The court heard that, even now, Mr Ali can walk only short distances with the aid of a walking stick.

At the High Court in Edinburgh, Gorman admitted racially-aggravated attempted murder, as well as causing racially-aggravated alarm to a woman within the hostel.

Following his seven years and nine months in jail, he will be supervised for four years upon his release.

In a statement following the sentencing, Detective Chief Inspector Paul Grainger said: "Gorman used appalling racist language before perpetrating significant violence against the victim, who was left fighting for his life.

"I cannot condemn the circumstances of this case strongly enough.

"Edinburgh thrives on diversity and Gorman's actions do not in any way reflect the values of our city."