Violent thug who caved in mans skull during savage hammer attack that left victim needing metal plates in his head and jaw is jailed for 21 years

Shocking footage shows a thug smash a man in the skull with a hammer in a savage revenge attack.

Abdul Wahab, 29, launched at the victim, in his 20s, as he was being served in a shop.

CCTV shows Wahab moments before he battered the man who was in a store in Stratford Road, Sparkhill, Birmingham, at 2pm on February 21.

The victim suffered a brain bleed and swelling following the horrific six second attack.

He has since been left with metal plates in his skull and jaw.

Abdul Wahab has been jailed for 21 years for seriously damaging a mans skull in a vicious hammer attack

A grab from CTV footage showing Wahab carrying out the hammer attack in a store in Birmingham on February 21 

Wahab entering the shop before assaulting his victim

Wahab walking along a street holding his hammer weapon in his right hand

Wahab fled the scene and footage shows him running through a park before disposing of the hammer in a lake.

He then raced to Heathrow Airport where he boarded a plane for Abu Dhabi.

On returning to the UK he was arrested at the airport on March 26.

Wahab, of Birmingham, admitted grievous bodily harm with intent and possession of an offensive weapon, but was found guilty of attempted murder by a jury.

He was jailed for 21 years at Birmingham Crown Court on October 25.

Wahab shown running through a park where he disposed of his weapon by throwing in a lake

The attacker shown at Heathrow airport boarding a flight for Abu Dhabi

Wahab being arrested on his return to the west London airport on March 36

Wahab refused to give evidence in court but comments he made to officers suggested the attack was committed out of revenge.

Detective Constable Sam Higginson said: This was a brutal attack on a man in a shop in the middle of the day.

The man suffered serious head injuries including a bleed to the brain and had metal plates fitted in his skull. He was in hospital for more than a month.

Wahab then fled the country in a desperate bid to escape justice. Fortunately we arrested him on his return to the UK.