Jailed: man who shot police officer through hand with gun he claimed was a toy

 
Injury: PC Mark Bird was shot through the hand
Alexandra Rucki27 March 2015
WEST END FINAL

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A man who claimed he thought he was carrying a toy gun when he shot a police officer through the hand was today jailed for 12 years.

Shocking images released by the Met Police today show the police officer’s bloody hand with a black wound in the middle of his palm and bullets lying in the pavement after the shooting.

Michael Olsen, of Lavinia Road, Dartford, was approached by the two officers on October 3 last year, after he crashed into a traffic island and several other cars in Westwood Lane, Welling.

Inner London Crown Court heard he abandoned the Land Rover Freelander in the road and walked away towards Welling.

PC Mark Bird and PC Robert Wilson traced him to nearby Wendover Way and pulled up alongside him in an attempt to speak to him, but he refused.

When they got out of their car and approached the 52-year-old he turned around and pointed a gun at PC Wilson.

PC Bird lunged forward to the aid of his colleague and Olsen shot him in the hand, the court heard.

Both police officers were able to restrain Olsen, disarm him and put him in handcuffs.

The court heard when Olsen was questioned at a south London police station he claimed he was unaware the gun was real, stating he thought it was a toy.

Gun shot: bullets lying on the pavement following the shooting

Olsen was found guilty of grievous bodily harm with intent, possession of a firearm with intent to danger life, possession of ammunition and dangerous driving following a trial at Inner London Court.

Firearm: Olsen claimed he thought he was brandishing a toy gun

A judge at the same court jailed him for 12 years following a hearing on March 20.

Detective Constable Toby Carroll said: “It is only by chance that his decision to brandish and discharge a firearm at unarmed officers did not have fatal consequences, as could his behaviour behind the wheel of his car.

"His claim that the firearm was a toy was little more than pathetic. He will now spend a considerable time behind bars as a result of his actions."

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