Muhammad Rodwan

The offence

What the court heard

He was found guilty of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH) in Leyton, east London, on 7 August 2019. He was found not guilty of attempted murder and possessing an offensive weapon (machete). He was driving his van without insurance when a police officer attempted to carry out a routine traffic stop. He punched the police officer and attacked him with a machete he said he kept in his van for his gardening work. His 29-year-old victim suffered six blows to the head causing skull fractures and deep wounds which required surgery. SENTENCING REMARKS Introduction Muhammad Rodwan, you are now 56 years old. Having been acquitted of attempted murder and having an offensive weapon, you stand convicted by a unanimous jury of wounding PC Stuart Outten with intent contrary to s. 18 of the Offences against the Person Act 1861. This was a brutal and shocking attack with a machete on a police officer carrying out his duties during what should have been a routine stop of your van to investigate whether you were properly insured. The facts At around midnight on 7 August 2019 you were lawfully apprehended by PC Outten and PC Helen Brooks for driving your van without insurance on Leyton High Road, E10. Contrary to what you told the jury, I am sure that you knew when apprehended that you had no insurance: your van was where you lived at the time, and your means of getting to your jobs as a handyman. You kept work records and photographs of the back of your van show that you are an organised person. You would have been well alive to the important question of insurance. Moreover, when the police stopped you, both officers separately made it clear to you that they wanted to speak to you because they believed that you had no insurance at the time. If you had genuinely believed otherwise, you would have simply said so. When you first pulled up, already angry, you refused to exit your vehicle. You drove off a short distance, then stopping again. You got out of your van and were immediately confrontational both in your body language and words, challenging the police officers in the street. The officers on the other hand were polite and professional towards you, using the words "please" and "sir". You ignored their lawful requests, instead returning to your van and attempting to get in and drive off again. I am sure that the violence started with you - when PC Outten blocked your attempt to shut your door. You punched, or at least pushed, PC Outten out of the…

Around this case

• Central Criminal Court Crown Court
• Prosecuted by Crown Prosecution Service
• Investigated by Metropolitan Police Service