A Newcastle taxi driver has been jailed for nine years after throwing a pan of boiling oil at police officers, leaving one with serious burns to his face and chest.
According to a report by BBC News, 45-year-old Mohammed Sarfaraz was convicted at Newcastle Crown Court of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, attempted wounding, and affray following a violent confrontation earlier this year.
The court heard that police had gone to a property in Kenton, Newcastle, on 17 January 2025, as part of ongoing concerns involving Sarfaraz and his family. When told officers were looking for him, his wife was seen making a phone call — which Judge Robert Adams said was “no doubt warning” Sarfaraz that police were on their way.
Sarfaraz then heated a pan of oil in his parents’ kitchen in Gosforth, where he was later found by officers. As they entered the property, Sarfaraz swung the boiling oil at them, striking one officer in the face and chest. Another officer narrowly avoided being hit.
Judge Adams said Sarfaraz had “deliberately heated” the oil to create a highly dangerous weapon, rejecting his claim that he was merely “cooking an egg.”
After fleeing into a garage, Sarfaraz was arrested following the use of Tasers and a battering ram to gain entry.
The injured officer suffered permanent scarring and required frequent visits to a burns unit during his recovery. In a statement read to the court, he said his children had been “shocked and upset” by his injuries.
The court also heard that Sarfaraz had been linked to 22 domestic-violence reports and 44 child-concern notifications between 2013 and 2024. He was assessed as posing a high risk of serious harm to both partners and the public.
Judge Adams told Sarfaraz that attempts to pressure the court — including claims he would kill himself if given a long sentence — were “inappropriate and manipulative.”
Sarfaraz, who maintained his innocence and wrote a 30-page letter blaming police and social services for discrimination, will serve nine years in prison for the attack.
DM News Commentary
This disturbing case highlights the risks faced by frontline officers responding to domestic incidents. The fact that the offender was a licensed taxi driver may also prompt questions about ongoing background-check procedures and monitoring of high-risk individuals within the private-hire sector.
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