A teenager who attacked four police officers with a knife in a blitz of violence after luring them with a false crime report has been jailed for 15 years.
Alex Traykov began his assault after he made a false report about a disturbance in Islington, north London, last October, the Old Bailey heard.
Traykov, who was 19, embarked on the “ferocious” knife attack after one of the officers knocked on the door of an address on Liverpool Road having been told there was a fight between two men in progress, the court was told.
But instead, the teen answered the door with a 23cm long blade hidden behind his back.
The group of officers – two men and two women PCs – were then subjected to a 20-second “terrifying” ordeal as Traykov was described as using the knife in a stabbing motion towards them.
Traykov brought the knife down on PC Istarlin Said Ali, cutting her head and her hand.
As PC Said Ali fell, Traykov swung the knife at PC Rafal Kedziora and struck him in the face.
As all of the officers then retreated, Taykov was seen on CCTV continuing his assault.
He was then described as having stood over PC Kedziora with the knife, and on seeing another officer, PC Launa Watkins, with her Taser, he threw the knife at her.
It took two discharges of the stunning weapon to subdue Traykov before the officers were able to restrain him using protective equipment.
The knife Traykov used was later recovered from the road and forensically examined. It was found to have a blade 23 centimetres long and was found to show traces of PC Kedziora’s blood.
All four officers were injured, the Metropolitan Police said. Traykov, now 20, has never provided an explanation or motive for his actions.
He was found guilty of three counts of GBH with intent and one count of attempted GBH and was sentenced on Friday to 15 years.
While sentencing, Judge Wendy Joseph QC said the attack was a “truly terrifying incident”.
Detective Inspector Kate Stannard, the Met’s senior investigating officer, said: “This case highlights the very real risk that police officers can be confronted with on a daily basis and the courage and professionalism officers demonstrate when doing their job.
“I am pleased that the sentence Alex Traykov received today, reflects the gravity of the offence.
“This crime has had a huge impact on the victims, both physically and mentally; they are being supported and I commend them for the bravery and determination to ensure that this violent individual was apprehended.
“Bringing violent offenders to justice and maintaining public safety is a top priory for us as a police service and I think today we have achieved that.
“Today’s sentence was important as we have now negated the risk that Alex Traykov posed to other police officers and members of the public.”