Policewoman punched in the face in Manchester Airport brawl brands attacker a ‘coward’
A female police officer who was punched during a fracas at Manchester Airport told a court of her anger today, branding her attacker ‘cowardly’ and saying that he ‘played the victim’.
A female police officer who was punched during a fracas at Manchester Airport told a court of her anger today, branding her attacker ‘cowardly’ and saying that he ‘played the victim’.
Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, 21, was convicted of assaulting PC Lydia Ward and PC Ellie Cook during the incident on July 23, 2024.
Mobile phone footage of the incident was widely shared online in the aftermath, sparking protests after a young Asian male was seen lying on the floor while being kicked in the face by a male police officer, who appeared to stamp towards his head.
However, a CCTV clip leaked to the press days later revealed that, beforehand, several punches were thrown towards the male firearms officer and his two female colleagues.
Amaaz and his brother Muhammad Amaad, 26, both of Rochdale, Greater Manchester, were charged with assaulting PC Zachary Marsden during the altercation, but juries at two trials failed to reach a verdict on the count. Last month, a decision was made by the Crown Prosecution Service not to pursue a third trial.
Appearing at Amaaz’s sentencing today, in which he was jailed for three and a half years, Ms Ward read a powerful statement to Liverpool Crown Court.
The officer, who has now been promoted to sergeant, addressed Amaaz directly as she said: ‘You changed my face.
‘You chose to attack a female. You knocked me to the ground with one punch, with so much force you broke my nose.
‘How would you feel if a male did that to your mother? How would you feel if it was your mother standing here today explaining how she was violently assaulted by a male?
She added: ‘What angers me is that afterwards, when only part of the footage was out in the public, you played the victim.
‘You are not a victim. I am the one who was injured, not you. You had the whole world listening to you, and you showed no remorse. Not one ounce.’
Ms Ward further said: ‘You allowed the public to feel sorry for you. You made out like we had done something wrong when all we were doing was our job.’