Rapist who slashed policeman jailed in 1990s for similar machete attack
A HANDYMAN could be facing life behind bars after being found guilty of a ferocious machete attack on an officer dubbed “Britain’s hardest cop”.
Pc Stuart Outten (29) was repeatedly struck over the head with a 2ft long blade after stopping Muhammad Rodwan’s white van for having no insurance in Leyton, east London, on the evening of August 7 last year.
Despite bleeding heavily from six deep gashes to the head and arm, the Metropolitan Police officer managed to Taser Rodwan twice.
Rodwan (56), who has previous convictions for rape and two machete attacks, claimed he acted in self-defence, telling police:
“My life is worth more than his life.”
But graphic police body worn video showed him punching the officer before grabbing a sharpened machete as Pc Outten tried to arrest him.
Just an hour before the incident Pc Outten had texted his girlfriend, who is also an officer: “Right I’m off to cause trouble. Stay safe my love.”
Later he sent her the rueful update that it was “a bit more trouble” than he had bargained for.
A jury deliberated for seven hours to clear Rodwan of attempted murder, but find him guilty of wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm.
He was cleared of possession of an offensive weapon, after claiming he kept it to chop up brambles on gardening jobs. Rodwan made no reaction as the verdicts were delivered, while some of Pc Outten’s loved ones wept in the public gallery.
He could face life in prison when he is sentenced by Mrs Justice Carr today.
Afterwards Pc Outten said he counted himself “very lucky” to survive.
He said: “I was just doing my job, doing what I’m trained to do, but more importantly making sure I didn’t die, because that was a distinct possibility had the attack carried on.
“I recall specifically as I was falling to the floor, having fired the first shot and aiming for the second (thinking) that if this doesn’t work, this might be it. “But luckily the Taser worked.” Of his attacker, he said: “It feels good to see the system going through the paces, but personal feelings for him? I don’t have any.”
Laughing off the “hardest cop” title he was given by the tabloid
Press, Pc Outten said: “Luckily I have the size and build that I can take a couple of machete blows to the head — apparently — and I can act afterwards.”
During the trial the jury was not told that Rodwan had previously attacked two men with a machete in the bedroom of his flat in east London in 1996.
The defendant, then known as Rodney Reid, was jailed at Snaresbrook Crown Court for nine years for wounding with intent.
In 1983 he was jailed at the Old Bailey for three years for rape, and in 2008 he received a caution for having cannabis, according to sources.
Mrs Justice Carr turned down an application by the prosecution to tell jurors about previous machete attacks during the trial.