A Metropolitan Police officer has told a court he is unsure if his Taser worked correctly during an incident that left a suspected burglar paralysed after a fall. The officer, Police Constable Liam Newman, 31, is on trial at Southwark Crown Court accused of causing grievous bodily harm to Leonard Sandiford.
The Chase and Critical Injury
The court heard that the incident began in the early hours of 24 April 2022, when PC Newman and a colleague responded to a report of an attempted burglary at a bookmakers on Chigwell Road in Woodford Green, east London. The officers located a white Ford van driven by Mr Sandiford and attempted to stop it.
Prosecutor Irshad Sheikh told jurors that PC Newman struck the van with his baton, opened the driver's door and tried to pull Mr Sandiford out as the vehicle moved backwards. In a statement, Newman said he "feared for my life", believing he could have been run over.
Mr Sandiford fled on foot, leading to a chase. He eventually climbed onto an outbuilding in a cul-de-sac. Body-worn video footage played in court showed PC Newman pointing and activating his Taser. Mr Sandiford then fell from a height of 5 to 6 feet, sustaining a spinal cord injury. The prosecution stated he is now tetraplegic and uses a wheelchair.
The Officer's Defence and Court Proceedings
During the trial, a prepared statement from PC Newman was read to the jury. In it, he said: "I'm not sure if any Taser activation connected and was effective." He emphasised that his intention was solely to lawfully detain the suspect and not to cause harm.
Newman also described the challenging circumstances, noting the poor visibility of the drop on the other side of the shed roof and his basic knowledge of the area's geography. He stated: "I believe I acted lawfully and was doing my job in pursuing and attempting to arrest a burglar."
However, the prosecution's case is that firing the Taser in those circumstances was an unreasonable and unlawful use of force. They argue Mr Sandiford was moving across the outbuilding with his back to the officer when the Taser was deployed.
Ongoing Trial and Aftermath
Leonard Sandiford himself gave evidence, telling the court he ran from the officers because he had been "spooked" after seeing a truncheon and a Taser. The incident has had life-altering consequences, leaving him permanently disabled.
PC Newman denies one count of grievous bodily harm. The trial at Southwark Crown Court continues, with the jury tasked with determining whether his actions were a lawful attempt to apprehend a suspect or an unlawful act that caused catastrophic injury.
