Police Sergeant Feared Spine Was 'Shattered' in Sledgehammer Assault, Court Hears
A female police sergeant believed her spine might have been "shattered" and feared permanent paralysis after a Palestine Action activist struck her in the back with a sledgehammer during a violent confrontation, jurors were told at Woolwich Crown Court.
Violent Raid on Defence Contractor Site
The incident occurred on August 6, 2024, when six activists—Charlotte Head, Samuel Corner, Leona Kamio, Fatema Rajwani, Zoe Rogers, and Jordan Devlin—allegedly broke into the UK facility of Israel-based defence company Elbit Systems near Bristol. Prosecutors state the group destroyed property and clashed with security personnel and police officers during the carefully planned operation.
Graphic Testimony of the Attack
Sergeant Kate Evans described the moment she was struck while kneeling to arrest Rogers. "It was a thud and it just dispersed," she testified. "I felt it in my back, it dispersed across my whole body, down my legs, everywhere." Evans recounted feeling "shocked," "in disbelief," and "scared" immediately after the impact.
"I thought my spine could have been shattered from the impact," she added. "I didn't know if I could move, whether I was paralysed at the time."
Colleagues Describe Terrifying Scene
Police Constable Peter Adams told the court that Corner hit Evans with "considerable amount of force," causing her to scream in pain. "He was clearly a threat at that time," Adams stated.
Another officer, PC Aaron Buxton, testified he witnessed Corner raise the sledgehammer over his shoulder before striking Evans, who made an "immediate noise of pain." Buxton revealed that prior to attacking Evans, Corner had swung the sledgehammer toward him "multiple times" as he struggled with Devlin on the floor.
"I was terrified in that situation," Buxton said. "It's not somewhere I expected to find myself and I didn't know what the outcome was going to be from that." He reported feeling "significant pain" down his right calf during the altercation.
Lasting Injuries and Recovery
The court heard that Evans suffered a fractured spine in the attack, which caused her difficulty sleeping and exercising. She was unable to return to work for three months and remains on restricted duties more than twenty months later. Evans testified she continues to experience persistent back pain as a result of the assault.
Details of the Planned Operation
Prosecutors described how the six defendants, dressed in red jumpsuits, used a prison van as a battering ram to crash through shutters outside the factory in the early hours of August 6, 2024. Once inside, they allegedly used sledgehammers and crowbars to destroy computers, drones, and other equipment while spraying walls and floors with red paint using fire extinguishers.
Documents found on an encrypted site revealed the operation's purpose was to "shut Elbit down," with the stated objective being "this is our primary objective as Palestine Action. We can do that by sticking together and ensuring its destruction with our brain and muscle."
Charges and Ongoing Trial
All six defendants—Head (30), Corner (23), Kamio (30), Rajwani (21), Rogers (22), and Devlin (31)—deny charges of criminal damage. Corner faces an additional charge of causing grievous bodily harm with intent to Sergeant Evans, which he also denies. The trial continues as the court examines the evidence surrounding this violent confrontation between activists and law enforcement.
