An Afghan migrant jailed for a brutal and unprovoked assault on a young woman has died in custody at HMP Wandsworth.

Gulwali Stanekzay, 25, died on January 17 while serving a three-year prison sentence for the violent attack.
The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman is understood to have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.

Stanekzay had admitted repeatedly punching Aisha Waris during a random assault in Harlesden, north west London, in February 2023.

The attack left Ms Waris covered in blood and was captured on a neighbour’s Ring doorbell camera.

He pleaded guilty to two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and two counts of criminal damage at a hearing in May 2023.

The court heard that on the evening of February 26, Ms Waris, then 23, was walking home along Minet Avenue at around 7.30pm when Stanekzay deliberately cycled into her.

He then punched her repeatedly around the head and shoulders for about a minute before cycling away.

Gulwali Stanekzay, 25, died on January 17 while serving a three-year prison sentence

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Still in shock, Ms Waris continued towards her home but soon saw her attacker return.

Stanekzay launched a second assault, forcing her to shield her face and flee towards a nearby property.

Despite her pleas for him to stop, he attacked her a third time at the doorstep of neighbour Richard Jarman.

Footage showed Ms Waris approaching the front door begging him to leave her alone, before screaming “No” as the assault continued.

The Afghan national was caught on camera attempting to kick down Mr Jarman’s front door

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Mr Jarman came outside after hearing screams and warned Stanekzay he was being filmed before retreating indoors.

After Ms Waris reached safety, Stanekzay turned his anger on a Toyota Prius parked nearby, causing £3,445 worth of damage.

He then attempted to kick down Mr Jarman’s front door, smashing the glass and camera with a bike lock and causing more than £4,000 in further damage.

Ms Waris’s father, Abdullah Khan, arrived after being alerted by a friend who had been speaking to his daughter during the attack.

Stanekzay arrived in Britain as an unaccompanied 16-year-old in 2016

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Stanekzay also assaulted Mr Khan, punching him several times and dragging him along the road before fleeing.

Ms Waris suffered a bruised lip, swollen nose and extensive bruising to her chest, shoulders, face, head, neck and back, requiring hospital treatment.

In her victim impact statement, Ms Waris said: “This incident has caused me a lot of distress and had an impact on my emotions and my mental health.”

She added: “I used to love going out by myself, for example, going for walks, and was independent however this attack has taken my independence away from me.”

Stanekzay arrived in Britain as an unaccompanied 16-year-old in 2016 and was homeless at the time of the offence, having spent periods in immigration centres.

Sentencing him at Harrow Crown Court, Judge Maya Sikand described the assault as “wholly unprovoked” and told him: “Watching that footage is upsetting and frightening and I’m sorry to say portrays you in a very ugly light.”