Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, 21, from Rochdale, has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison for assaulting two female police officers and a member of the public at a Starbucks in Manchester airport in July 2024. The conviction followed a four-week trial at Liverpool Crown Court, where he was found guilty of common assault and two counts of actual bodily harm.
Mobile phone footage of the brawl was widely shared on social media, showing a young Asian man being kicked in the face by a male police officer. Later, a leaked CCTV clip revealed an altercation beforehand with three officers, who sustained injuries including concussion, a broken nose, and bruising. The jury saw footage of Amaaz head-butting a member of the public and throwing multiple punches, elbow strikes, and a kick at responding officers PC Lydia Ward and PC Ellie Cook.
Amaaz and his brother, Muhammad Amaad, 26, claimed lawful self-defence against PC Zachary Marsden, but juries could not reach a verdict on charges related to Marsden. The Crown Prosecution Service declined a third trial. In victim impact statements, PC Ward described being knocked to the ground with a broken nose, calling the attack 'cowardly' and expressing anger that Amaaz 'played the victim' after partial footage emerged. PC Cook said she was left 'traumatised' and has decided to give up her role as a firearms officer, putting her dream of becoming a close protection officer on hold.
Both officers spoke of the lasting impact on their lives, with Ward stating she could not enjoy her maternity leave due to court proceedings, and Cook saying she had to move from her home and felt 'broken'. The court heard that Amaaz's actions had 'such power' that Cook thought she was being attacked by three to four people.
