Judge Neil Flewitt KC told Amaaz that he had been the "aggressor"
A man who punched two female police officers at Manchester Airport while resisting arrest after headbutting a customer in a Starbucks café has been jailed for three and a half years.
Mohammed Fahir Amaaz was sentenced after being convicted of assaulting PC Lydia Ward, PC Ellie Cook and Starbucks customer Abdulkareem Ismaeil during a violent incident at Manchester Airport’s Terminal 2 in July 2024.
Liverpool Crown Court heard that Amaaz was the “aggressor” throughout the confrontation, which left one officer with a broken nose and another suffering lasting physical and psychological trauma.
Sentencing had been delayed following a retrial over allegations that Amaaz assaulted PC Zachary Marsden.
However, a jury failed to reach a verdict for a second time, and Amaaz was subsequently cleared of that charge.
Violence at Manchester Airport led to Public Scrutiny
The incident unfolded on July 23, 2024, after police officers responded to reports that a man matching Amaaz’s description had headbutted customer Abdulkareem Ismaeil inside a Starbucks café at Manchester Airport.
Prosecutors told the court that when officers tried to escort Amaaz outside, he resisted arrest and used what was described as a “high level of violence” against attending officers.
The confrontation, which took place outside Terminal 2, was captured on video footage that was widely circulated on social media.
Initial clips showing PC Zachary Marsden appearing to kick Amaaz while he was on the ground sparked protests and prompted public criticism of police conduct.
However, CCTV footage later released showed the events leading up to the arrest, including footage of Amaaz punching PCs Ward and Cook to the ground.
During sentencing, Judge Neil Flewitt KC told Amaaz that he had been the “aggressor” and described the assaults on the officers as “prolonged and unprovoked”.
The court heard that PC Marsden remains under investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), although the watchdog has declined to provide further comment.
In May 2026, the Crown Prosecution Service confirmed it would not pursue a third trial against Amaaz or his brother, Muhammad Amaad, who had faced a single charge of assaulting PC Marsden.
Both men were formally acquitted of those charges.
Throughout proceedings, the brothers maintained they had acted in lawful self-defence, or in defence of one another.
The Lasting Impact of the Assault
During the sentencing hearing, PC Lydia Ward, who has since been promoted to sergeant, delivered a victim impact statement directly to Amaaz.
She told him: “Take away that I am a police officer. Look at me, standing here.
“What do you see? I’ll tell you what you see. You see a female. A female who is 5ft 2 and at the time of the incident, I weighed no more than eight stone.
“You are a male and you chose to attack me without a second thought. You chose to attack a female.”
“You knocked me to the ground with one punch, with so much force you broke my nose.”
In an earlier statement read to the court, Ward also told Amaaz: “What you did was cowardly.”
PC Ellie Cook described the profound impact the incident had on both her professional and personal life.
In a statement read by prosecutor Paul Greaney KC, she said: “Each of our faces were plastered all over national news.
“Everyone knew who we were. I had to move out of my home, a home where I felt safe and secure. For what? For doing my job?”
The court heard that Cook later gave up her role as a firearms officer due to the trauma caused by the attack.
She continues to experience physical effects from the assault, including “shooting pains” in her jaw when yawning, frequent headaches and ongoing sleep problems.
Following the incident, the CPS announced in December 2024 that no police officers would face criminal charges. As a result, Greater Manchester Police lifted PC Marsden’s suspension.
Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson said the force would continue to cooperate fully with the ongoing IOPC investigation.
He said: “Our officers were responding quickly to precisely the sort of outrageous criminal behaviour that rightly offends the public.
“In undertaking their duties, officers were met with resistance and violence; followed by online vilification, condemnation and adverse commentary from those who did not have the full facts.”
Highlighting the broader issue of violence against emergency workers, Sir Stephen added: “Such incidents can never be justified.”
He said that 35 Greater Manchester Police officers are assaulted every week.
Loading ...