London, England – A man was sentenced to prison for a violent homophobic attack in Islington after a nationwide manhunt. Alex Ogden, 28, was convicted of grievous bodily harm and sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Tuesday, April 23 after pleading guilty to the charge.
The incident, which took place on Wednesday, October 18, 2023, involved Ogden attacking a man in his 50s at an address in Islington. The victim was subjected to homophobic abuse and physically assaulted with a knife, resulting in cuts to his face and a broken nose.
Following the attack, Ogden fled the scene and a national manhunt was launched on November 1 by the Metropolitan Police. Forensic evidence gathered from the scene positively identified Ogden as the suspect, leading to his eventual arrest in Southwark on November 2.
During the court proceedings, it was revealed that Ogden had a history of 39 previous convictions for various offenses across the country, with most occurring in the north of England, particularly in Yorkshire and on trains. As a result of his actions, Ogden was sentenced to 32 months in prison and issued a five-year restraining order for the protection of the victim.
Detective Chief Inspector Paul Ridley from Central North Public Protection Team commended the efforts of his team in securing the conviction against Ogden, emphasizing the severity of hate crimes and urging other potential victims to come forward. This conviction highlights the Metropolitan Police’s dedication to combating hate crimes, particularly within the LGBTQ+ community.