Family of stabbed PC Stuart Outten 'incredibly proud' of his bravery in machete attack

The police officer attacked with a machete “loves his job” having joined the force straight from school, his family has revealed as they declared they were “incredibly proud” of his bravery.

PC Stuart Outten, 29, suffered severe wounds to his head and hands when he was set upon after stopping a van thought being driven without insurance in Leyton, East London, shortly after midnight on Thursday.

He was injured as he shielded a female officer before managing to use his Taser to incapacitate his assailant who was said to have launched a “sudden and brutal attack”.

Mr Outten’s parents and elder brother were understood to be at his hospital bedside, where he is described as being in a serious but stable condition.

In a statement issued by the Metropolitan police, his parents, Andrew and Karen, and brother, Simon, 31, said they had been touched by the support they had received.

“We have been overwhelmed by the amount of support we have received from the public, Stuart's colleagues and the wider policing family,” they said.

“We are incredibly proud of the bravery Stuart showed during the incident. His injuries could have been fatal and we are thankful that he is stable and recovering in hospital with his loved ones around him.”

The man accused of trying to kill PC Outten appeared in court on Friday morning.

The officer, from Grays in Essex, joined the force 10 years ago and has been based at Waltham Forest in the north east of the capital.

The family added: “Stuart joined the Met straight from school and loves being a police officer and protecting the public.

"Although there are risks associated with his job, we would never have expected something like this to happen.”

Mr Outen was treated at the side of the road by fellow officers and paramedics before being taken to hospital where he underwent surgery.

"We are so grateful to the London Ambulance Service paramedics and hospital staff for their care and compassion,” his family continued.

However, his relatives have been upset by graphic mobile phone footage that has been circulated online. One video clip shows the officer bleeding badly as he was slumped on the pavement. A photograph taken of him in hospital shows the extent of his injuries

"We have been made aware of images circulating that show Stuart's injuries and him recovering in hospital,” the family, also from Essex, said.

"We would kindly ask the media and the public not to publish these images at what is already an extremely distressing time for us as a family.”

It has been reported that his girlfriend, a fellow police officer, arrived at the scene and helped treat his wounds. The woman, who is in her 20s and has not been named, posted a message on social media saying she was “heartbroken”.

The message read: “My world fell apart. Words can’t fill the thoughts I feel.”

Mr Outten has received praise from both the public he serves and commendations from fellow officers who recalled his passion for fighting crime in London.

Detective Chief Inspector Stuart Cheek, from Hertfordshire Police, said he met Mr Outten shortly after the young officer joined the force a decade ago.

“I worked at Waltham Forest at the same time PC Stuart Outten was first starting out, and always remember him being a keen, enthusiastic and professional officer,” he wrote in a tweet. “Would add brave and committed to that list now.”

Muhammad Rodwan, 56, appeared in court charged with possession of an offensive weapon and the attempted murder of the officer.

Mr Rodwan, from Luton, appeared in handcuffs at Thames Magistrates' Court in east London wearing a grey prison-issue tracksuit.

He spoke only to confirm his name, age, address and British nationality before he was remanded in custody. He will appear at the Old Bailey.