A STUDENT, who was part of a gang of 40 youths that cornered a police officer during riots in Isleworth, has been jailed for 14 months.

Adam El-Wahabi, 21, of Hounslow Road, Feltham, was part of a gang that forced PC Martin Blake out of his van by throwing a large rock at it, causing it to swerve, at about 10.30pm on Tuesday August 9.

Wood Green Crown Court was told last Thursday (October 13) that the gang, who were all wearing masks or hooded tops, with at least three of them holding sticks, then cornered PC Blake in Eversley Crescent, Isleworth.

Prosecutor John Fairhead said: "When another police car approached from behind, PC Blake was facing these 30 to 40 young men running towards him.

"The defendant ran up to him, he had his right hand behind his back and the officer shouted at him to stop.

"He then struck him hard on the thigh and the lower leg, causing the defendant to fall to the floor."

The court was told, El-Wahabi, then a second year business student at Kingston University, refused to stay down at first but was hit a second time and incapacitated.

An ambulance was called when he complained about his injuries and on his way to hospital he ‘abused’ paramedics and threatened to 'get them tomorrow' as well as threatening to kill two or three police officers.

Henry Vallance, defending, said El-Wahabi suffered from autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which made him short-tempered.

He added: "At the time of his arrest he was a student at Kingston University who had completed two out of a three-year degree in business studies. He has by his actions effectively thrown that away."

El-Wahabi, who has previous convictions for offences including criminal damage and possession of cannabis, pleaded guilty to violent disorder.

Judge Peter Ader said: "The things that were done by that group, whether you did them or were simply there encouraging them, were dangerous.

"They could have been the cause of very serious injury to police or any other bystander.

"The officer must have felt frightened because he struck you on the leg and you were then threatening and abusive to the paramedics who came to help you."

A 16-year-old Hounslow boy accused of murdering a man during the Ealing riots is due to appear at the Old Bailey for a pre-trial hearing on November 24 before standing trial on March 12.