Police body-worn camera footage shows officers rapidly detaining a man who was seen carrying multiple weapons on the grounds of a secondary school during the summer break, a court has been told.
Incident at Edgar Wood Academy
Greater Manchester Police were called to Edgar Wood Academy in Middleton on 6 August last year after a school employee reported a suspicious person on the site while pupils were not present. Officers can be seen on footage leaping from a vehicle and running towards the man before tackling him to the ground.
“He had a hammer and a hatchet with him,”
The defendant, identified at court as Both Douk Deng, 21, was found to be carrying a hammer, a hatchet, a seven-inch kitchen knife and a jerry can containing around half a litre of petrol, the prosecution said. Workmen present at the site raised concerns and called police after observing him approach the building.
Court hearing and background
Deng pleaded guilty to offences including criminal damage and possession of weapons and a knife in a public place and on school premises. On 28 July he was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment at Minshull Street Crown Court.
The court heard Deng, a South Sudanese national, had applied for asylum in the UK on three occasions and his applications had been refused. Prosecutors said he had become increasingly frustrated at immigration authorities and intended to create a disturbance to attract attention to his case.
Local response and safety note
No pupils were on site at the time because the school was closed for the summer. Members of the public and workmen who first noticed the man reported that he had been acting unusually in the vicinity of the school, walking around the building and appearing to be muttering. The site staff’s alertness and the prompt police response were central to preventing any escalation.
- Date of incident: 6 August (year reported to court)
- Location: Edgar Wood Academy, Middleton
- Sentence: Two years’ imprisonment
| Offence | Detail |
|---|---|
| Possession of weapons | Hammer, hatchet, seven-inch kitchen knife |
| Possession of incendiary item | Jerry can with approximately 0.5 litre of petrol |
| Criminal damage | Included among pleaded offences |
The case highlights the potential risks when unauthorised individuals approach school premises, even outside term time. It also underscores the role of contractors and members of the public in spotting and reporting concerning behaviour. The sentence handed down reflects the combination of weapons possession and the location of the offences on school grounds.
Greater Manchester Police released the body-worn footage as part of their account of the incident; the swift actions of officers resulted in a rapid arrest without injury to officers or members of the public.
Anyone who observes suspicious behaviour around schools or public buildings is advised to contact the police by calling 101 for non-emergencies, or 999 if a crime is in progress.
