A man who plunged from an auxiliary structure after being Tasered by a police officer is now reliant on a wheelchair, a court has been informed.

Leonard Sandiford was fleeing from law enforcement in Woodford Green, east London, when he found himself in a dead end and climbed onto a “shed-like structure.” After being Tasered, he fell from a height of approximately 5 to 6 feet (1.5 to 1.8 meters).

At 61 years old, he has suffered a spinal cord injury, leaving him tetraplegic and wheelchair-bound, as stated by prosecutor Irshad Sheikh during proceedings at Southwark Crown Court on Monday.

Metropolitan Police Constable Liam Newman, 31, hailing from Hornchurch, is facing charges of grievous bodily harm against Sandiford.

The jury was informed that the prosecution argues that Newman’s decision to deploy the Taser in this situation constituted an unreasonable application of force and was thus unlawful.

In his opening remarks, Sheikh asserted, “Mr. Sandiford was merely trying to escape. He posed no threat to either of the officers.”

He explained that Newman had undergone training related to the use and deployment of Tasers, emphasizing, “The potential for a person to be incapacitated in such a scenario inherently increases the likelihood of an uncontrolled and unsupported fall.”

“The risk of injuries occurring under these circumstances should have been clear to PC Newman,” he added.

Newman was accompanying another officer in response to a report concerning an attempted burglary at a bookmaker’s on Chigwell Road in Woodford Green at 5:00 AM on April 24, 2022.

The two officers approached a white Ford van driven by Sandiford, intercepting it as it neared a side street.

Jurors heard that the officers attempted to stop the vehicle, leading Newman to strike the driver’s side with his baton, open the door, and try to pull Sandiford out.

Sandiford raised his hands while exiting the vehicle, and Newman ordered him to kneel while aiming a Taser in his direction, the court was informed.

Although Sandiford slightly bent his knees, he ultimately fled, prompting the officers to give chase.

During the pursuit, Newman deployed his Taser twice, including two shots when Sandiford had scaled the wall of the shed, according to jurors.

After the first discharge, while Sandiford was on the structure, he “let out a yell but continued to flee,” Sheikh reported.

The second discharge incapacitated Sandiford, causing him to lose muscular control and fall to the ground.

The trial is ongoing.