'You Used Me As A Punch Bag... Then Played The Victim': Airport Cop's Fury As Manchester Attacker Is Jailed A police sergeant whose nose was broken during the violent confrontation at Manchester Airport has delivered a devastating courtroom rebuke to the man who attacked her, accusing him of using her "as a punch bag" before portraying himself as the victim. Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, 21, was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison after being convicted of assaulting two female police officers and attacking a member of the public during the chaotic incident at Manchester Airport's Terminal Two in July 2024. 'Take A Good Look At Me'Addressing Amaaz directly in court, Sgt Lydia Ward described the lasting physical and emotional scars left by the attack. She challenged him to look beyond her police uniform and see "a female" standing just 5ft 2in tall and weighing barely eight stone at the time of the assault. "You used me as a punch bag," she told him. "But I will get back up and I will show you how strong I am." Ward said Amaaz punched her with such force that he broke her nose, leaving her bloodied on the floor before turning his attention to fellow officer PC Ellie Cook. "You changed my face," she told him. "What you did was cowardly." Officer Says Amaaz 'Played The Victim'Ward reserved some of her strongest criticism for what happened after the incident. She accused Amaaz of exploiting viral mobile phone footage showing only the aftermath of the confrontation while ignoring the violence that preceded it. "You are not a victim," she said. "I am the one who was injured, not you. You allowed the public to feel sorry for you." She added that Amaaz had shown "not one ounce" of remorse throughout the investigation and trial. Attack Left Second Officer 'Broken'PC Ellie Cook also described the devastating impact of the assault. She told the court she had been struck repeatedly with such force she initially believed several people were attacking her. The psychological trauma forced her to leave her firearms role, putting her long-held ambition of becoming a close protection officer on hold. "I used to be happy," she said. "I used to be driven. I used to be focused. I am now broken." Cook also revealed she had been forced to move home after her identity became widely known following the viral footage and subsequent online abuse. Judge: 'Total Lack Of Remorse'Sentencing Amaaz to 42 months in prison, Judge Neil Flewitt described all of the assaults as entirely unprovoked. He rejected claims that the brothers had acted in self-defence, saying the officers posed no threat when they attempted to arrest Amaaz following an earlier assault on a passenger. The judge also criticised Amaaz for continuing to portray himself as the victim despite overwhelming CCTV evidence. "You sought to blame others for what was clearly your responsibility," the judge said. Case Sparked National ControversyThe airport confrontation became one of Britain's most politically charged policing incidents after footage showing an armed officer kicking Amaaz while he lay on the ground spread rapidly across social media. The clip prompted protests and allegations of police racism before CCTV later emerged showing the violent attacks on the officers moments earlier. Amaaz was convicted of assaulting Sgt Ward, PC Cook and a member of the public. However, after two separate juries failed to reach verdicts over allegations that Amaaz and his brother assaulted PC Zachary Marsden, prosecutors decided not to pursue a third trial. Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson said assaults on officers could "never be justified", revealing that an average of 35 of his officers are assaulted every week across the force. The Independent Office for Police Conduct continues investigating PC Marsden's actions during the arrest, including his kick to Amaaz's head, while a second officer also remains under investigation. SOURCE
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