After a south London man was sent down for a 16-year jail term today, the police released body worn camera footage showing the moment he sprayed ammonia in the face an officer and then drew a gun as the same officer and his colleague gave chase.
Twenty-two-year-old James Boyle from Brixton, was sentenced today (Monday March 13) at Kingston Crown Court after pleading guilty to a total of seven offences.
As well as a charge of administering a poison or noxious substance with intent Boyle was also changed with:
– Possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence;
– Using a firearm with intent;
– Assault (Actual Bodily Harm);
– Possession of a bladed article (knife);
– Possession of a bladed article (axe);
– Having a corrosive substance in a public place
The dramatic events caught on camera happened shortly after midnight on June 17 last year, when police were called to reports of people acting suspiciously around parked vehicles on Commonside East, Mitcham.
It was there that PC Samuel Goard came in contact with his attacker. Boyle, who was not known to the officer, was asked to take his hands out of his pockets. He is then seen pulling out a bottle and spraying PC Goard in the face with ammonia before moving toward him.
Despite only being able to see out of one eye, PC Goard managed to use his PAVA spray, causing Boyle to turn and flee.
Although half blinded PC Goard gave chase and was joined by his colleague PC George Garner.
In the body worn camera footage Boyle is then seen to pull out a handgun from his waistband and points it at them – without firing it – he then makes off.
Seven days later after detectives spent hours collating and trawling through CCTV footage they managed to identify Boyle, locate him and arrest him.
When they arrested him police said they found a knife and an axe in his rucksack, along with a drinks bottle containing ammonia. And during a search of his home, a grey tracksuit top was found which was identical to the one worn by Boyle in the officers’ body worn video footage.
Investigators found that the gun Boyle used to threaten officers with had been fired before police arrived, and also they found live rounds of ammunition.
Police said the ammunition and the bottle containing the liquid both provided forensic matches to Boyle.
Fortunately PC Goard suffered no lasting injury and Detective Chief Inspector Rebecca Woodsford, from Specialist Crime, who led the investigation, said Boyle was left with no choice but to plead guilty, so strong was their case against him.
“Boyle is an extremely dangerous offender,” she said “and we are pleased that the overwhelming evidence gathered during our investigation left him with no choice but to plead guilty.
“We have no doubt that he would have caused further harm was he not identified and arrested so quickly.
“My thoughts remain with the officers involved in this incident who are fortunate not to have suffered lasting injury. Police officers routinely put themselves in harm’s way but no one should have to come home from work having been assaulted in the course of their duty.”
In an impact statement to the court PC Goard said he feared he would be disfigured for life.
“At the time of the incident,” he said, “I was in complete fear for my life.
“I did not know what the male had sprayed at me.
“Thoughts of acid, ammonia or any liquid that could have caused me irreversible injuries to my eye, sight, or permanent disfigurement to my face overcame me.
“My thoughts turned to my son at home, was he going to grow up only knowing me as having a disfigured face, will he recognise me when I go home?”
His colleague PC Garner also gave his impact statement to the court saying: “When he pulled the gun on me I felt powerless and had to let him run away.
“I was left with the same recurring thought: If it was so easy to point a gun at a police officer what would he do to a member of the public?
“I returned to work the day after the incident. I love my job and didn’t want what happened to affect me or make me fearful, but it is a terrifying reminder that the most routine call could end up being something that could change my life or the lives of my loved ones forever.”
The 47-year-old management consultant who’s become a Peckham police constable