Brothers jailed after Luton machete attack on policeman

BBC News

15 hours ago

Two robbers have been jailed after an "heroic" off-duty police officer was attacked with a machete after he confronted them while he was shopping.Brothers Hannan Mahmood, 20, and Humar Mahmood, 19, carried out the attack in Luton town centre on Saturday, 2 November after PC Darren Attwood confronted them as they rode through a pedestrianised area.The pair, both of Belmont Road in the town, admitted assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, robbery, possession of a bladed article in a public place, and dangerous driving.Judge Allison Hunter hailed the policeman's actions and jailed the "dangerous" brothers, who had previous convictions, for seven years each at Luton Crown Court.
The judge said PC Attwood, who works for the Metropolitan Police, needed to be "commended" - and gave him a High Sheriff's Award and the sum of £500.Judge Hunter said the brothers' offending was "brazen", "highly dangerous" and carried out in a "very public place" with children present.
Barrister Jonathan Mole, prosecuting, told the judge the two brothers were armed with machetes and had robbed a man of his dirt bike, which was worth about £1,000.They had then ridden off through Luton town centre - one on a moped and the other on the dirt bike they had taken from Nouman Raza.Mr Mole said PC Attwood had approached the pair and identified himself as a police officer.
CCTV footage from the town centre was shown in court as well as footage of the victim talking in hospital.Humar Mahmood could be seen to produce a machete and swing it at PC Attwood.As he backed away, the brothers then rode towards him before riding off, having left the officer with a stab wound to the chest.
PC Attwood said he had not realised the pair had committed a robbery when he approached them.He said he was concerned about their behaviour, aimed to "reason" with them, and "didn't expect what happened to happen".The Met officer said he had photographed the brothers and pulled down some plastic barriers in front of their bikes in an attempt to stop them escaping and he felt "lucky to be alive".The hospital footage showed PC Attwood, a former soldier who has returned to work, explaining how he had been attacked."He has pulled out a machete... and then he just started swinging," said the victim."I felt one [blow] on my arm."The second one [said] 'just... kill him' and I thought 'this is not ideal' [but] I cannot let [them] get away."
'Risked his life'
The judge heard the brothers had previous convictions - Humar for wounding and knife offences; Hannan for robbery and assault. Hannan had been given a nine-month custody sentence in 2024 and had been released on licence when he attacked PC Attwood.Barrister Kevin Molloy, for Humar, said his client's behaviour could be a reaction to bullying suffered at school.He told the judge: "The violence was in an attempt to get away rather that just attacking someone for the sake of it."Mr Molloy said Humar had taken "responsibility" by pleading guilty.Marcus Rickard, for Hannan, said PC Attwood had been "heroic" and there was no doubt the brothers behaviour was "appalling".He said Hannan had also suffered "horrific" bullying at school and been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).Mr Rickard said Hannan was a "very conflicted young man" but added: "There is a good person in there."After the hearing, Det Insp Caeva Taylor, from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit, said: "PC Attwood risked his life to protect the public."
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