Thug who attacked police officer with kung fu kick admits assault

Judge asks why thug who launched flying kung fu kick on female police officer which almost caused her to be crushed by a bus didn’t face more serious charge as he admits assault

  • Kursan Euell, 20, admitted kung fu kick assault on female police officer
  • He and friend Martin Payne, 19, attacked traffic patrol pair in Wimbledon
  • Unnamed female officer cut her head and still has not returned to work
  • Judge asked why thugs had not been charged with more serious GBH

A thug has admitted a ‘flying kung fu kick’ attack on a female police officer that almost sent her into the path of a moving bus.

Kursan Euell, 20, and friend Martin Payne, both pleaded guilty to ABH over the assault on a pair of officers on traffic patrol in Wimbledon which left PC John Collins with a broken rib and the PC Lorraine McGinty with a cut to the head.

But the judge questioned why the more serious GBH with intent charge had not been brought against them and said she was ‘concerned the charges did not reflect the full criminality of the offence’.

The attack was caught on camera and prompted a nationwide debate on whether police get enough protection and whether the public should intervene in such incidents.  

Euell had previously claimed he was at his grandmother’s 80th birthday party when the assault happened and said he had ‘six witnesses’ who could back him up.

Kursan Euell, left, and Martin Payne, right, have admitted ABH against two police officers after assaulting them in Wimbledon last month when they pulled over their BMW on a routine stop

Euell was caught on camera attacking PC Lorraine McGinty with a kung fu kick, pictured, causing her to fall back into the road

Kingston Crown Court heard PC McGinty, a mother, has still not returned to work, since the attack on November 17, which followed the police officers pulling over Euell’s BMW for a routine stop.

It was also told both offenders have previous convictions for assaulting police officers.   

After the Crown accepted their pleas, Judge Sarah Plaschkes QC raised concerns over why the Crown Prosecution Service had not charged the pair with more serious assault charges before adjourning the case for reports to be made on the pair.

She said the ABH charges carried a maximum of five years in prison and added: ‘The court is concerned if these counts reflect the full criminality of this offence.

‘These offences were committed on the street at night in the presence of members of the public.

‘I’m not giving any indication one way or another as to the court’s eventual sentence.

‘I’ve indicated already my concern. As I say it’s a matter for the Crown.’

Earlier the court heard that Euell kicked PC Lorraine McGinty in the back of the head and fractured one of PC John Collins ribs after they pulled over their BMW in a routine check.

An earlier hearing at Wimbledon magistrates court in which Euell indicated a not guilty plea was told the 20 year old has 20 previous convictions.


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In police interview Euell claimed he was at his grandmother’s 80th birthday party that night and had never visited the Streatham Hill area in south London that weekend.

He even said he had six witnesses who would say he was not in Wimbledon.

The court also heard that PC McGinty was not the first female police officer that Euell had attacked. 

Met Police commissioner Cressida Dick called on the public to ‘get involved’ if they see police officers being attacked in the wake of the attack.

Wearing glasses, Euell, of Catford, south east London, pleaded guilty to two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH) at Kingston Crown Court.

Payne, 19, of New Malden, south west London, who wore a bandage around his left wrist in the dock, admitted ABH against PC Collins as well as driving without insurance or licence during the incident.

They were remanded in custody ahead of sentencing in January when the horrifying footage of the attack in Merton, south London, will be played in court.

Prosecutor Stephen Apted said: ‘This incident took place shortly before eight in the evening on the 17th of November this year.

The pair also left PC John Collins with a broken rib after the fracas, pictured, which spilled into the road, and a judge asked why more serious GBH charges were not brought against them

‘When PCs McGinty and Collins carried out a routine traffic stop of a BMW motor vehicle in which Payne was the driver and Euell was one of the passengers.

‘During the course of that routine stop the officers were assaulted.

‘PC McGinty sustained a wound to the back of her head and PC Collins sustained cuts and grazing, an injury to his finger as well as a fractured rib.

‘To my knowledge PC McGinty has still not returned to work.’

She told the court both defendants had a long criminal history including assaulting police officers, robbery and of violence.

Euell, 20, has an extensive criminal record, including other assaults on police officers going back to 2011. 

19-year-old Payne’s first conviction was in 2014 was for attacking a police officer while resisting arrest.

Referring to Euell, Judge Plaschkes QC said: ‘He has a history, albeit he’s only 20, of previous convictions going back to 2011 for attempted robbery, batter, further counts of battery and robbery.

‘Through 2012 there’s a history of failing to comply with court orders, burglary and offences of assaulting police officers.

‘On the 24th of September 2013 he appeared before South London Juvenile court for possession of an offensive weapon in a public place, an offence of robbery and an offence of assaulting a constable.’

The attack on PC McGinty left her inches away from being hit by a moving bus, pictured

Euell, who will be subject to psychiatric reports before his sentencing, was given a detention order in 2016 for possessing a weapon in public and assaulting a police constable on April 26 that year.

The judge said his most recent conviction was in April last year and added: ‘So in this circumstances I’m minded to to adjourn for a pre sentence report.

‘Mr Payne also has a long list of previous convictions.’

His earliest was ‘assault with intent to resist arrest, robbery, theft, possessing a prohibited weapon and affray in 2014.

‘Breaching a Criminal Behaviour Order, violent disorder, possessing an offensive weapon in 2016.

‘Further offences – I needn’t specify them all. I think his most recent offence is for drugs offences.’

Thomas Broomfield, defence barrister for Euell, said psychiatric reports will be made on him ahead of sentencing on January 21.

He and barrister Brian Kennedy, for Payne, both applied for pre-sentence reports to be made on the defendants. 

The court heard Euell was ‘under the wing’ of Wandsworth Children’s Services and had been since he was two-years-old because of his mother’s mental health issues.

He lives alone in a flat in south-east London that has been provided to him by Wandsworth Children’s Services and receives a subsistence grant for attending a property development apprenticeship, plus housing benefit and tax credits. 

Reacting to claims that the charge was too light, a CPS spokesman said: ‘Having looked at the level of injury we were satisfied that the charge was correct and that it gave the court the right level of sentencing powers.

‘You should also note that GBH should include permanent or life-changing injuries.

‘Grievous bodily harm means really serious bodily harm. It is for the jury to decide whether the harm is really serious. However, examples of what would usually amount to really serious harm include:

  • Injury resulting in permanent disability, loss of sensory function or visible disfigurement;
  • Broken or displaced limbs or bones, including fractured skull, compound fractures, broken cheek bone, jaw, ribs, etc;
  • Injuries which cause substantial loss of blood, usually necessitating a transfusion or result in lengthy treatment or incapacity;
  • Serious psychiatric injury. As with assault occasioning actual bodily harm, appropriate expert evidence is essential to prove the injury.’

Meanwhile Met Police chiefs today announced a member of the public will be formally commended for stepping in to help the officers.

This is after footage of the assault went viral on social media, sparking a public debate on filming assaults on officers instead of helping them.

Following the pleas, District Crown Prosecutor Charlotte Chirico, of the CPS, said: ‘The CPS looked at the evidence provided to us by police, which included shocking camera footage.

‘Because of the injuries suffered by the male officer, along with the deliberate way Kersan Euell took a run-up before launching a flying kick on a female officer, we pursued charges of actual bodily harm.

The court heard Euell and Payne, pictured during the assault, both had previous convictions for attacking police officers

‘Both attackers have now pleaded guilty to ABH against both police officers, whichreflects the severity of the attack.

‘I hope this case acts as a deterrent to anyone who might try to assault a police officer thinking they will get off lightly.’

A spokesman added: ‘The CPS will ask the court to pass an increased sentence to take into account the new Assaults on Emergency Workers Act which makes assaulting an emergency worker an aggravating feature.’

After his guilty pleas today (Fri) Chief Superintendent Colin Wingrove, OCU Commander for Roads and Transport Policing and Chief Superintendent Sally Benatar, South West BCU Commander said in a joint statement: ‘The impact of this despicable assault has been considerable, not only on the two officers involved but on their families, friends and colleagues.

‘Whilst police officers are rightly expected to handle difficult and hostile situations on a regular basis, we do not accept that assaults are part of the job, and we feel that our officers deserve the protection of the law in order to do their jobs effectively.

‘We are pleased that the two suspects have been brought before the court swiftly thanks to the hard work of Detective Constable Jean-Paul Ricot-Gomez and the rest of the team.

‘We would also like to publicly thank the member of public who stepped in to assist at the time and his actions will be recognised at a formal commendation ceremony.

‘We are also grateful to the many members of public and colleagues from the emergency services who passed on their best wishes to our officers, having seen the video of the incident in the media. We really value your support.’ 

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