A Metropolitan Police officer has been acquitted of assault after using a Taser on a suspected burglar, who subsequently fell from a wall and was left with catastrophic, life-changing injuries.
The Incident and the Injuries
PC Liam Newman, 31, was found not guilty of assault occasioning grievous bodily harm on Tuesday following a trial at Southwark Crown Court. The court heard that in the early hours of April 24, 2022, Newman and a colleague responded to a report of an attempted burglary at a bookmaker's on Chigwell Road in Woodford Green, east London.
After a chase, the suspect, 61-year-old Leonard Sandiford, entered a cul-de-sac and climbed onto an outbuilding. PC Newman deployed his Taser, causing Sandiford to fall from a height estimated between five and six feet. The fall resulted in a severe spinal cord injury. Mr Sandiford is now tetraplegic and requires the use of a wheelchair.
The Courtroom Arguments
During the trial, prosecutor Irshad Sheikh argued that Newman fired the Taser not out of fear for safety, but simply to prevent Sandiford from escaping, labelling it "lazy policing". The defence, led by Kevin Baumber, countered that Newman was acting with legitimate aims and a motivation for public service, with no personal vendetta.
PC Newman testified that he believed there was a high chance Sandiford was armed and that he was "protecting myself and protecting others". He stated his "honest-held belief" was that Sandiford posed the highest possible risk. The officer also claimed he thought Sandiford was on a low, flat surface roughly two feet high when he discharged the Taser, not realising the actual height.
Body-worn video footage shown to the jury captured Sandiford moving across the outbuilding with his back to the camera before the Taser was activated and he disappeared from view.
Aftermath and Institutional Response
Following an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), PC Newman pleaded not guilty to grievous bodily harm in November 2024. He has been on restricted duties since the 2022 incident. A Met Police spokesperson confirmed that with criminal proceedings concluded, the force would now liaise with the IOPC regarding potential misconduct proceedings.
Chief Superintendent Stuart Bell, responsible for policing in Redbridge, expressed regret. "Our thoughts today are with Mr Sandiford who has been left with life-changing injuries following this tragic incident," he said. Bell emphasised that officers must be held to the highest scrutiny but also face challenging situations requiring difficult split-second decisions.
He reaffirmed the Met's stance that Taser remains a vital tool but stated the force would continue to review its use and provide regular training to ensure appropriate deployment.
