London, United Kingdom – A man known for his extensive criminal history has been sentenced to 32 months in prison after carrying out a violent homophobic attack in Islington.
28-year-old Alex Ogden pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm for attacking a man in his 50s at a property in Islington using a knife and hurling appalling homophobic abuse at him.
The victim suffered facial cuts and a broken nose as a result of the attack. Ogden fled the scene, prompting an investigation by The Met.
Following forensic evidence linking Ogden to the crime scene, a national manhunt was launched by The Met on November 1, ultimately leading to his arrest in Southwark the following day.
During the court hearing, it was revealed that Ogden had accumulated 39 previous convictions for various offenses, primarily in the north of England, including Yorkshire and on trains.
In addition to his prison sentence, Ogden was issued a five-year restraining order to protect the victim, with the requirement to comply with licensing terms upon release.
Detective Chief Inspector Paul Ridley of the Central North Public Protection Team commended his officers for securing a conviction against Ogden, emphasizing the force’s dedication to addressing hate crimes, particularly within the LGBTQ+ community.
Ridley urged the public to report any incidents of hate crimes, reinforcing the Met’s commitment to prosecuting individuals who perpetrate such acts of violence.