PC Stuart Outten moments after the attack
Muhammad Rodwan targetted PC Stuart Outten after he was stopped in his van for having no insurance.
The 56-year-old, from Luton, was sentenced today after being convicted of GBH with intent.
Muhammad Rodwan has been jailed
Rodwan launched his attack in Leyton High Road in August 2019.
Footage of the incident was played to a jury at the Old Bailey during his trial for attempted murder.
But he was found not guilty of attempted murder, instead being convicted of GBH with intent.
Rodwan was also found not guilty of possession of an offensive weapon.
PC Outten and his colleague PC Helen Brooks pulled over a van in High Road just after midnight on Thursday, 8 August.
It was being driven by Rodwan without insurance. However, as PC Brooks asked him to come onto the pavement he shouted at her and drove off again.
The two officers stopped his van again 300-metres down the road. This time PC Outten parked in front of the vehicle to prevent Rodwan speeding off.
Rodwan came out of the vehicle with PC Brooks but became increasingly agitated. As he walked back to the drivers door, he was stopped by PC Outten.
The officer grabbed Rodwan’s arm as he reached for the door but Rodwan lashed out and punched him in the face twice.
A struggled ensued and Rodwan began hacking at PC Outten with a 19-inch blade.
The 29-year-old officer managed to discharge his taser at Rodwan but it failed to incapacitate him. Fortunately, the PC fired again and this time Rodwan collapsed to the floor.
Members of the public gave PC Outten first aid and used a jacket to try and stop the bleeding from his head.
He was rushed to hospital and needed surgery for multiple injuries.
If he had not been able to discharge his taser, his injuries could have been far worse or even fatal.
“What happened that day will always stay with me,” said PC Outten.
“It’s been really hard seeing how it has affected my family. It also upset me to see my family having to deal with the distress of the court case and watch the harrowing footage – having to hear a machete repeatedly go into the skull of their loved one was not easy for them.
“As soon as I realised I’d been attacked with a machete, I just knew that I needed to stop him or he would kill me. I’ve been Taser trained since 2013 and luckily my training kicked in. When the first shot didn’t work, I remember thinking that if the second one didn’t work, that would be it and I’d be dead, but thankfully it did.
“I would like to thank the members of public who helped me on that evening and I’d also like to thank all the members of public who sent me well wishes, cards and gifts. It really meant a lot to me and my family.”
Detective Chief Inspector, Nathan Munson said: “Rodwan was not acting in self-defence on that day – the number of blows, the force of the blows and targeted blows to PC Outten’s head proved this.
“I’m proud of PC Outten, he demonstrated incredible bravery and professionalism on the night of the incident, which undoubtedly prevented him suffering even more serious injuries.”
Tags: Waltham Forest, Leyton
