Man Jailed for Throwing Urine at Prison Officer in London First
A 22-year-old man has been jailed for chucking urine at a prison officer, in a groundbreaking case prosecuted under a rarely used Victorian law. Michael Raheem, homeless and aged 22, was slapped with a 20-month sentence after splashing a prison officer at HMP Belmarsh with urine disguised in a shower gel bottle.
Strange Attack Sparks Innovative Police Action
The bizarre incident happened on 6 October 2018. Raheem approached a female officer holding a bottle filled with yellow liquid and sprayed her before being detained. Staff kept the half-full bottle as vital evidence.
Usually, such an assault would only see six months max for common assault. But Detective Constable Natalie Ford dug deeper, using Section 24 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861. This law targets the use of “noxious substances” with intent to injure, aggrieve, or annoy.
Forensics Breakthrough Confirms Urine, Seals the Case
Identifying urine to prove the charge was a challenge. The Met’s usual tests look for drugs or alcohol, not urine itself. They had to hunt down a specialist forensic provider who could confirm the liquid was urine beyond reasonable doubt.
Detective Chief Inspector John Massey praised the team’s grit and creativity, saying: “This conviction shows real persistence and flair for innovation, proving the Met goes the extra mile to protect frontline staff and deliver justice.”
Double Trouble: Urine Attack Leads to Consecutive Jail Time
Raheem pleaded guilty via Skype at Woolwich Crown Court on 17 April. At the time of the incident, he was already on remand for robbery. He later received a six-year sentence for that. The 20-month term for the urine assault will run consecutively, keeping him locked up longer.
