London, England – A violent homophobic attack perpetrator, who sparked a nationwide manhunt before being arrested by Metropolitan Police officers, has been sentenced to jail. Alex Ogden, 28, with no fixed address, was found guilty of grievous bodily harm and sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Tuesday. He had pleaded guilty to the charges brought against him.
During the trial, it was revealed that Ogden had brutally assaulted a man in Islington back in October. The victim, a man in his 50s, was viciously attacked with a knife by Ogden, who also subjected him to homophobic abuse. This resulted in severe injuries, including cuts to the face and a broken nose for the victim, before Ogden fled the scene.
Following the incident, a dedicated investigation team from the Central North Public Protection Team initiated a national manhunt in collaboration with police forces nationwide. Through forensic evidence obtained from the crime scene, Ogden was identified as the primary suspect. After a period of extensive publicity and police efforts, Ogden was eventually located and apprehended in Southwark.
Ogden, with a history of 39 previous convictions, mostly in the north of England, was sentenced to 32 months in prison. Additionally, a five-year restraining order was issued to protect the victim, and Ogden will be put on license post-release. Detective Chief Inspector Paul Ridley commended his team’s efforts in securing a conviction against Ogden, emphasizing the gravity of the offense as a homophobic hate crime.
Ridley urged other potential victims of hate crimes to come forward, underscoring the Metropolitan Police’s resolute commitment to addressing and prosecuting individuals who perpetrate harm within the LGBTQ+ community. This conviction serves as a testament to the continual effort to combat hate crimes and safeguard vulnerable communities from violence and discrimination.