Judge praised for machete attacker’s tough sentence

A JUDGE has been praised for handing down a heavy sentence to a convicted rapist who attacked a police officer with a machete.

Muhammad Rodwan, 56, launched a “brutal and shocking” assault on Pc Stuart Outten after his van was stopped for having no insurance in Leyton, east London, last August.

Despite suffering six wounds to his head and one to the arm, the 29-yearold officer managed to use his Taser twice to bring the suspect to the ground and call for help on his radio.

The defendant, who had previous convictions for two machete attacks and rape, was yesterday jailed at the Old Bailey after being found guilty of wounding with intent.

Mrs Justice Carr found Rodwan to be a dangerous offender as she sentenced him to 16 years, with a further three years on extended licence.

She said: “This was a brutal and shocking attack with a machete on a police officer carrying out his duties.”

Pc Outten, she said, displayed “considerable presence of mind and fortitude” in subduing the attacker while so seriously injured.

Yesterday, the sentence was commended by the Police Federation, which represents officers across the country and has previously criticised what it claimed to be a trend of unduly lenient sentences for attacks on police.

It said in a tweet following sentencing: “Good to see the judiciary utilising their powers and handing out a 16-year sentence for this shocking and violent attack.”