Robber jailed for life after stabbing two Met Police officers during Leicester Square chase

A robber has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 20 years after stabbing two officers during a police pursuit in London's West End. Mohamed Rahman, 25, stabbed police constable Joseph Gerrard in the neck and chest and Pc Alannah Mulhall in the arm while intoxicated early on 16 September in 2022. Met Police[1] officers pursued Rahman after a member of the public, Mark Graven, told police the defendant showed him a knife before taking his portable charger in Shaftesbury Avenue, London.

During the pursuit, which led officers to Leicester Square, the police used Pava spray and Tasers against Rahman, but they were unable to contain him. He used a kitchen knife to attack the officers. Rahman, of Notting Hill, west London, was convicted in October after a trial at Kingston Crown Court of the attempted murder of Pc Gerrard and grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent against Pc Mulhall.

He was also convicted of assault occasioning actual bodily harm against Pc Richard Ulla - who suffered a cut on his finger, two counts of threatening a person in a public place with a bladed article against two other officers and possession of a bladed article. Rahman was further found guilty of robbing Mr Graven. He was given a life sentence with a minimum term of 20 years, minus the 449 days he has already spent on remand.

Judge Rajeev Shetty told Rahman: "I am sure that you are capable of the most violent kind of behaviour to others which has the potential to kill. "Anyone who is unhinged enough to attack a group of police officers... poses an even greater risk to the public." While in court, Pc Mulhall said she thought Pc Gerrard would die in the attack, as he was stabbed where his vest did not provide protection.

She said: "The man was holding a knife like a dagger and I remember thinking he was going to kill him [Pc Gerrard], so I've gone over and batoned him in the back. "As I have, I tried to run to create space and I wasn't quick enough and he drove the knife into my arm. Story continues

"Things like this happen all the time." In February, Pc Gerrard said he was in "agony every single day" for months. In a statement he made in September, the officer said he was still not back to "zero pain".

He said: "It has been an uphill struggle to get myself free from injury. "It has been a long, frustrating year. "My life has been on hold.

I'm sick and tired of how long rehabilitation is taking." Chris Henley KC, defending, told the court Rahman had been going through a "mental health crisis" and had become "increasingly paranoid" in the days leading up to the incident. The court heard Rahman came into contact with police three days before the incident, following reports that he was feeling suicidal, after which he spent days living on the streets.

Rahman, wearing a white skull cap and blue robe, wrote a letter of apology that was read out by his barrister in court.

He said he wished he could go back and change what happened, adding: "I feel extremely guilty for what I have done."

He called his actions "out of character", labelled himself a non-violent person and insisted it was "never" his intention to hurt anyone.

References

1. ^ Met Police (news.sky.com)
2. ^ Officer cleared of gross misconduct after tasering 10-year-old (news.sky.com)