Leyton machete stabbing: Pc Stuart Outten identified as police officer

'World's hardest cop' stabbed in Leyton identified as PC girlfriend pays tribute — Pc Stuart Outten was slashed several times with a machete in routine stop in east London (Picture: SWNS)

The hero police officer left with horrific wounds by a man with a machete has been identified as PC Stuart Outten.

The officer, who is 28, has been dubbed the world’s hardest cop after he Tasered and then arrested his attacker despite a large chunk being taken out of the side of his head.

He was critically injured after pulling over a van for not having insurance near Leyton Midland Station, east London, shortly after midnight on Thursday.

As well as the head injury he needed treatment to his hands from shielding himself in the attack. After arresting the suspect he was heard saying ‘help, I’ve been stabbed’.

He then reassured bosses and friends with a text message that simply said: ‘I’m okay.’

It is also believed that his girlfriend is a fellow officer and she went to the scene to be with him before accompanying him at hospital.

PC Stuart Outten, 28,. See National News story NNmachete. A man accused of trying to kill a policeman with a machete appeared in handcuffs in court today.Muhammad Rodwan (doub corr), 56, is charged with the attempted murder of PC Stuart Outten, 28, just after midnight on Thursday. He is also accused of possession of a machete in Leyton, east London, and remanded in custody to appear at the Old Bailey in four weeks time.PC Outten is in a serious but stable condition in hospital after a man involved in the incident was tasered and arrested at the scene. — Pc Stuart Outten, 28, was attacked by a machete-wielding van driver in east London but still managed to subdue the suspect (Picture: SWNS)

She wrote online: ‘Heartbroken can’t even explain tonight’s events. My world fell apart.

‘Words can’t fill the thoughts I feel. Best wishes everyone, keep safe and remember to always have your colleagues’ back.’

PC Outten, a West Ham fan from Grays, Essex, is still at the Royal London Hospital where he is in a stable condition.

His family released a statement in which they said: ‘We are incredibly proud of the bravery Stuart showed during the incident.

‘Although there are risks associated with his job, we would never have expected something like this to happen.’

Muhammad Rodwan, 56, has been charged with attempted murder and possession of an offensive weapon.

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Handout screengrab from video of police and ambulance services treating someone at the scene in Leyton, east London, where an officer was stabbed shortly before midnight after attempting to stop a van. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Thursday August 8, 2019. The policeman, who managed to use his Taser despite having been stabbed, is in a critical condition in hospital and the alleged attacker was arrested by another officer. See PA story POLICE Leyton. Photo credit should read: PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder. — This was the horror scene next to Leyton Midland Station after the machete attack on Pc Stuart Outten (Picture: PA)

He appeared at Thames Magistrates’ Court this morning where he sat emotionless during a four-minute hearing.

District Crown prosecutor Varinder Hayre said he is accused of carrying out a ‘completely unprovoked, repeated and brutal attack with a machete on a police officer who was simply conducting his police officer duties on that day’.

He was remanded in custody until September 6 when he will appear at the Old Bailey.

The incident prompted outrage from policing leaders and politicians.

The most recent police recorded crime figures released by the Office for National Statistics show there were more than 30,000 assaults on officers in England and Wales in 2018/19.

Metropolitan Police Federation chairman Ken Marsh said: ‘Police officers across London are out there every day at risk protecting the public and sadly, yet again, a Metropolitan Police officer has suffered a severe injury on duty.

‘Enough is enough. Police officers should be going home at the end of their shifts. Not to hospital.’