A 45-year-old man, Mohammed Sarfaraz, has been jailed for nine years after throwing hot cooking oil at police officers in Newcastle, leaving one officer with second and third-degree burns.
The incident occurred shortly before midday on Friday, January 17, when five officers attended a residential address in Gosforth to speak with Sarfaraz regarding an ongoing matter. While inside the property, Sarfaraz verbally threatened the officers and threw hot cooking oil from a pan towards them before barricading himself in a garage.
Back-up officers arrived, and Sarfaraz was tasered and arrested. He was later charged with affray, attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent, and causing grievous bodily harm with intent.
At Newcastle Crown Court in July, a jury found Sarfaraz guilty of all charges. Two officers were injured in the attack, with one suffering serious burns that left scarring on his face and chest.
Detective Inspector Marc Lennox of Northumbria Police praised the bravery of the officers, saying: “They were simply doing their job and faced a fast-moving, terrifying incident. Sarfaraz’s lengthy prison sentence ensures justice has been served.”
