Man who punched female police officers at Manchester Airport jailed

Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, a 21-year-old man from Rochdale, has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison following an incident at Manchester Airport in July 2024. Amaaz was convicted at Liverpool Crown Court for assaulting two female police officers—PC Lydia Ward and PC Ellie Cook—as well as a Starbucks customer during an altercation. The attack occurred as officers attempted to arrest him for headbutting a man inside the café. While Amaaz faced additional charges related to the alleged assault of a male officer, PC Zachary Marsden, the jury was unable to reach a verdict on those counts, resulting in his acquittal on that matter.

During sentencing, Judge Neil Flewitt KC emphasized that Amaaz was the aggressor in the confrontation, describing both assaults as prolonged and without provocation. The incident was caught on video outside Terminal 2, and the footage was widely shared on social media platforms. Notably, a brief clip initially sparked protests after showing PC Marsden apparently kicking Amaaz while he was on the ground. Marsden is currently under investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), although the organization has not provided further comment.

In statements to the court, PC Lydia Ward recounted the violence of the attack, saying, “What you did was cowardly.” Ward described being physically overpowered despite her small stature, revealing that the punch she received broke her nose. PC Ellie Cook’s written testimony detailed the impact the assault had on her life and career, explaining that the trauma forced her to stop working as a firearms officer. Cook described the intense pain she suffered during the attack and the ongoing physical symptoms she experiences, including shooting pains in her jaw, headaches, and sleep difficulties. The officers’ identities were widely publicized nationally following the event, resulting in significant distress and a loss of their personal sense of safety.

The case drew further attention when prosecutors confirmed that no further trial would take place regarding the charges against Amaaz and his brother Muhammad Amaad, who was also acquitted of assaulting PC Marsden. Both brothers had claimed their actions were in lawful self-defence. In December 2024, the Crown Prosecution Service announced no charges would be brought against any police officers involved in the incident. Following this, Greater Manchester Police lifted the suspension of PC Marsden. GMP Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson stated the force’s commitment to cooperating fully with the IOPC investigation and highlighted the challenges officers face, noting an average of 35 assaults on GMP officers each week. He condemned the violence and subsequent online vilification of officers lacking full information about the events

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