In Islington, a man has been sentenced to jail for a violent homophobic attack following an extensive nationwide manhunt. Alex Ogden, 28, was found guilty of grievous bodily harm and received his sentence at Snaresbrook Crown Court on April 23 after admitting to the charge. The incident took place on October 18, 2023, where Ogden assaulted a man in his 50s at a location in Islington, using a knife to inflict cuts to the victim’s face and a broken nose alongside hurling homophobic insults.
Subsequent to the attack, Ogden fled the scene, prompting an investigation by the Metropolitan Police and the initiation of a nationwide manhunt commencing on November 1. Through forensic evidence collected at the scene, Ogden was positively identified as the perpetrator. Following a tip-off on Ogden’s whereabouts, authorities were able to apprehend him in Southwark on November 2.
During the court proceedings, it was revealed that Ogden had a history of 39 prior convictions spread across various regions, primarily in the north of England, especially Yorkshire and train transport systems. As a consequence of his actions, Ogden was handed a prison sentence totaling 32 months and was also issued a five-year restraining order for the protection of the victim upon his release.
Detective Chief Inspector Paul Ridley of the Central North Public Protection Team expressed pride in his officers’ efforts in securing a conviction against Ogden. Stressing the severity of the attack and the use of homophobic language, he urged any individuals who have encountered hate crimes to come forward, emphasizing the Met’s commitment to addressing and prosecuting such offenses within the LGBTQ+ community.