Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, 21, was convicted of assaulting PC Lydia Ward and PC Ellie Cook during an incident at Manchester Airport on July 23, 2024. He was sentenced to three and a half years in prison at Liverpool Crown Court.
Officer's powerful statement
PC Ward, now promoted to sergeant, addressed Amaaz directly in court: 'You changed my face. You chose to attack a female. You knocked me to the ground with one punch, with so much force you broke my nose.' She added, 'What you did was cowardly.'
She expressed anger that after only part of the footage was released, Amaaz 'played the victim.' She said, 'You are not a victim. I am the one who was injured, not you. You had the whole world listening to you, and you showed no remorse. Not one ounce.'
Background of the brawl
The incident began at Terminal 2 when Amaaz headbutted a Kuwaiti holidaymaker, accusing him of racially abusing his mother. Officers intervened, but Amaaz and his brother Muhammad Amaad, 26, fought back, punching the officers. PC Ward was knocked to the ground with a broken nose.
PC Cook fired her 50,000-volt Taser to detain the siblings. Mobile phone footage showing a male officer kicking Amaaz on the ground went viral, sparking protests. However, CCTV later revealed the officers were punched first.
Impact on officers
PC Cook told the court she has put her dreams of becoming a close protection officer on hold, leaving her 'broken.' PC Ward, who is 5ft 2in and 8st, said, 'You used me as a punch bag, but I will get back up, and I will show you how strong I am.'
She also noted she had to bring her newborn to court when giving evidence, calling it 'no place for a baby.'
Legal outcome
Amaaz was jailed for three and a half years. His brother Muhammad Amaad was charged with assaulting PC Zachary Marsden, but juries at two trials failed to reach a verdict, and the CPS decided not to pursue a third trial. The men claimed self-defence; Amaaz said he did not know the officers were female.
