This is the shocking moment a police officer was injured after being caught in the middle of a gang-related ammonia attack outside McDonald’s.
Dramatic bodycam footage captures a female officer coughing and spluttering after the chemical was thrown from drink bottles outside the busy fast food restaurant.
Members of the public were also caught up in the attack and one scantily-dressed reveller is tended to by officers who pour water into her eyes.
Frank Taylor, 25, (pictured) was jailed for two years and nine months at Northampton Crown Court for his part in the attack, which happened in Northampton at 4.30am on July 23 last year
Ijuha Sterling-Campbell, 21, (left) and Jake Price, 22, pleaded guilty to four counts of administering a poison or noxious substance with intent to injure. They both received sentences of two years and 11 months
A court heard the substance was thrown by gang members from Wellingborough, Northampton, who were targeting Northampton-based gang rivals.
Yesterday three men were convicted of taking part in the attack, which happened in Northampton at 4.30am on July 23 last year.
Frank Taylor, 25, Ijuha Sterling-Campbell, 21, and Jake Price, 22, all pleaded guilty to four counts of administering a poison or noxious substance with intent to injure.
The brave female officer collects a bottle of water from McDonald’s and pours it into the eyes of a young woman who was caught up in the attack
The officer says: ‘Yes she’s got acid in her eyes, look up for me sweetheart,’ as she cares for the scared woman
Taylor was jailed for two years and nine months at Northampton Crown Court, while Price and Sterling-Campbell each received sentences of two years and 11 months.
The three men, all from Wellingborough, were said to have acted jointly in administering the ammonia towards the crowd.
The incident was initially treated as an acid attack but it was later established the liquid was ammonia.
Two members of the public and two police officers were injured by the effects of the ammonia discharge and required hospital treatment.
The WPC is seen coughing and spluttering as a result of the ammonia, but she’s quick-thinking and runs to McDonald’s to get water to help victims
Detective Sergeant Keith Morson, of Northamptonshire Police, said after the case: ‘This incident was a horrendous, indiscriminate attack, which left innocent members of the public who were enjoying a night out with severe reactions to a chemical thrown at them.
‘There was a complete disregard for their safety and that of the two police officers who also suffered the effects of the substance.
‘I want to take a moment to pay credit to those officers who placed the welfare of others over their own by administering first aid and who demonstrated great professionalism by securing and preserving evidence at the scene.
The attack happened in Northampton at 4.30am on July 23 last year outside a busy fast food restaurant
Brave officers who were caught in the attack helped victims who had been splashed by the substance
‘This type of incident, although rare, is the continuation of a worrying national trend and I take pride we have managed this investigation to a successful conclusion, ensuring these gang members were all quickly identified, arrested and convicted for their dangerous actions.
‘Northamptonshire Police are determined to target any individual who affiliates themselves to a gang and we appeal for the public’s help in telling us about any concerns they have about gang activity.
‘Anyone with information about gangs operating in Northamptonshire Police can call us on 101 or independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.’
Taishon Whittaker, 26, was found not guilty of the same charges at the end of a six-day trial on Monday.