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Islington Tribune - by DAVID ST GEORGE
Published: 10 October 2008

Four years for teenager whose axe attack on police shocked shoppers

AN axeman has been locked up for four years after the Old Bailey heard how he launched an attack on police – because he hates them.
Unemployed Mohammed Sheikh whipped a hatchet out of his waistband to attack police trying to arrest two suspects.
The 18-year-old from Dove Road, Islington, was described as a “high risk” by Judge Ann Goddard, QC. He had four previous convictions for carrying knives and others for harming police.
The judge said of his violence: “And why? Just because you don’t like police constables and community support officers.”
Sheikh admitted affray, criminal damage, assaulting a constable and two attempts to wound officers in Wood Green on March 19.
The court saw CCTV coverage of the brief but savage encounter involving Sheikh, several officers, passers-by fleeing or hiding and other pedestrians helping to detain the attacker.
One young mother with a child in a buggy desperately tried to get out of the way as Sheikh advanced towards her with a razor-sharp axe held above his head.
The attack was launched as two support officers were quizzing two suspected shoplifters. Prosecution counsel Edward McKiernan explained that, although he had no business to intervene, Sheikh struck one officer on the head with his fist.
“He ran to the other side of the road and while reinforcements were arriving he returned wielding the axe,” Mr McKiernan said. He swung his axe at two other officers and then buried it into a patrol car windscreen.
Judge Goddard commended all the officers involved.

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