'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 Controversy

The 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.

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Another violent muslim criminal given an unduly lenient sentence by a liberal judge; the Attorney General’s Office needs to be asked to appeal this sentence under the “Unduly Lenient Sentence Scheme” for his appallingly violent assault on a policewoman.

Should have been ten years for attacking a cop.

UK needs to send a message to the thugs of the uk.

48 minutes ago, Eloquent pilgrim said:

Another violent muslim criminal given an unduly lenient sentence by a liberal judge; the Attorney General’s Office needs to be asked to appeal this sentence under the “Unduly Lenient Sentence Scheme” for his appallingly violent assault on a policewoman.

3 1/2 years for the assault is not unduly lenient. It is severe. You label the judge liberal because you don't like the punishment handed out. You obviously know nothing about the man. He was called to the Bar in 1981, which makes him an older judge and from a generation that was not particularly known for Liberalism. He was appointed during the Conservative rule of David Cameron. His reputation is one of a upholding of the law, and nothing else. He gained his experience in the Liverpool courts where GBH and ABH cases are a way of life. Assaults like this typically get 18-24 months. Here it was 42 months. Did you read the judgement? The judge tore into the defendant.

The defendant is scum. We all know that, but he did not get off lightly. He is still at risk for a civil suit. If it was possible, I would rather see the defendant removed from the UK and sent to Pakistan. Unfortunately, that's not allowed. As for the tiny police officer at 5'2, she was obviously not physically appropriate for the job. She was not much use then and won't be much use in the future, if she continues as a firearms officer. Consider what the ramifications would be if a terrorist easily disarmed her. She says that she is considering a change in her specialty, and I see that as an unintended indirect benefit to the public because she was shown to be ineffective in her job.