It was a tense day at Manchester Airport last July when Constable Lydia Ward, a pregnant police officer, found herself in the middle of a violent altercation.
The 5ft 2in officer, known for her dedication and calm under pressure, was suddenly punched in the face during an attempt to arrest a suspect.
New police footage, shown recently in court, captures the harrowing moment and the emotional aftermath.
The Arrest That Escalated Quickly
PC Ward was part of a three-officer team sent to detain 20-year-old Mohammed Fahir Amaaz at Terminal Two.
Amaaz was suspected of headbutting a man just minutes earlier inside a Starbucks café.
Alongside her colleagues, PC Zachary Marsden and PC Ellie Cook, Ward entered a pay station area to make the arrest after identifying Amaaz on CCTV.
Things quickly spiraled out of control when Ward tried to restrain Amaaz.
She explained in court how she gripped his arm, focusing on handcuffing him, but he suddenly resisted.
“It just escalated from zero to 100,” she said.
The suspect tensed up and refused to cooperate, signaling a violent turn in the encounter.
The Moment the Violence Exploded
During the struggle, Amaaz’s brother, Muhammed Amaad, joined the fray, making the situation even more chaotic.
PC Marsden was pushed to the ground and began getting kicked by Amaaz.
In an effort to protect her colleague, Ward tried to pull him away — but that’s when Amaaz landed a heavy punch square on her nose.
Ward described the blow as the hardest she’d ever experienced.
“It went black, then I hit the floor. I thought, ‘He’s knocked me out,’” she recalled.
She felt blood pouring from her nose and realized the severity of her injuries as she struggled to get back up.
Terrified and bleeding, she feared more violence was imminent from the hostile crowd gathered around.
A Scene Filled with Chaos and Fear
Throughout the confrontation, onlookers were shouting and recording on their phones, but no one stepped in to help the officers.
Ward said it felt like the crowd was against them, heightening her fear.
She even drew her pepper spray in case she needed to defend herself further, noticing two men nearby whom she thought were trying to interfere with the arrest.
PC Ward also attempted to call for backup by pressing the emergency button on her radio — only to find out later that her radio’s battery had been knocked out during the struggle.
Aftermath and Ongoing Court Proceedings
Following the incident, PC Ward went to the hospital and learned she had a broken nose, which required surgery to realign.
The footage from body cameras showing her bloodied and distressed has been played to the jury as part of the ongoing trial at Liverpool Crown Court.
Amaaz and his brother deny the charges against them, which include assaulting multiple officers and causing bodily harm.
PC Ward’s testimony gives a glimpse into the harsh reality police officers sometimes face, showing the courage and resilience required to do their jobs — even when faced with violence and fear.