Harlow: Judge thanks officer seriously injured in glass attack

UPDATED: Tuesday 17 September 11.50am

A man who almost killed a police officer by slashing him across the face and neck with a piece of glass has been given an indefinite hospital order.

Ahmed Poka, 23, was deemed unfit to stand trial at Chelmsford Crown Court, after he was charged with attempted murder and possession of an offensive weapon.

He instead faced a trial of facts, held in cases where a defendant is not fit to enter a plea.

On 3 June this year, the trial found Poka, of Boxted Road, Colchester, carried out both acts.

The charges related to an incident which unfolded on the afternoon of Wednesday 7 September 2022.

Officers were called to Goodman House, Harlow, at around 4pm to assist with a missing persons enquiry relating to Poka.

Once at the scene, an officer called out to Poka and approached him.

Poka responded suddenly and with violence.

Using a large shard of glass, he attacked the officer, running it down the side of his jaw and neck – missing a major artery by little more than 1cm.

Officers restrained Poka and called for immediate assistance to provide further aid to their injured colleague.

The injured officer was taken on to hospital and treated with stitches but will likely be left scarred for life.

At a hearing at the same court on Wednesday 11 September, he was sentenced to an indefinite hospital order under the Mental Health Act 1983.

This order is made under Section 37 of the Act, with a special restriction under Section 41 imposed by the court.

It means he can only ever be released if expert clinicians and the Home Secretary are satisfied he is no longer a risk to the public.

Judge Christopher Morgan said such an order was necessary to protect the public and added it was not possible to say how long Poka would remain a risk of serious harm.

'He sought to protect others'

Addressing the victim, Judge Morgan said:

“The final matter in this case is to express the gratitude that everyone has to officers such as [the victim] and his colleagues who, without any thought for their own safety, seek to protect the safety of others.”

Officer in the case Detective Constable Alfred Self said:

“This has proven to be a challenging investigation and court process, but I am hopeful this resolution will ensure Poka can pose no further danger to the public and to serving officers.
“Every day, police officers dedicate themselves to keeping the public safe.
“That work often means anticipating a level of danger, placing themselves deliberately in harm’s way to catch criminals and safeguard the community.
“But, as this case proves, this danger can be spontaneous and unpredictable.
“In this case, officers were simply responding to a missing persons enquiry – working to ensure the welfare and safety of Poka.
“Instead, within a few short moments of utterly shocking violence, this officer was left fearing for his life.
“This offence has had a profound and life-changing impact on not just the injured officer, but his colleagues.
“I can only hope the conclusion of this case and the thorough nature of our investigation will bring a small degree of closure for them.”

Monday 3 June

A man has been found to have carried out the act of almost killing a police officer with a piece of broken glass in Harlow.

Officers were called to the area of Station Approach at around 4pm on 7 September 2022 to assist with a missing persons enquiry relating to 23-year-old Ahmed Poka.

Once at the scene, an officer approached Poka, who responded by slashing the officer across the jaw and neck with a piece of glass causing a serious injury.

Poka was deemed unfit to stand trial at Chelmsford Crown Court, after he was charged with attempted murder and possession of an offensive weapon.

He instead faced a trial of facts, held in cases where a defendant is not fit to enter a plea.

On Monday 3 June 2024, after hearing the key evidence of the case, a jury came to the decision within 28 minutes that Poka carried out the act.

Poka will remain in custody until a further hearing to decide the outcome, on a date to be set.

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