Jurors were told the prosecution case is that Newman firing the Taser in the circumstances was an unreasonable use of force and was therefore unlawful.
Opening the case, Sheikh said: “Mr Sandiford was simply running away. He was not a threat to either of the officers.”
He told the court that Newman had been on training programmes for the deployment and use of Tasers, and added: “A person being incapacitated in these circumstances would inevitably lead to the risk of an uncontrolled and unsupported fall.
“The risk of injury being caused in these circumstances should have been obvious to PC Newman.”
Newman was with another officer responding to a report of attempted burglary of a bookmakers in Chigwell Road, Woodford Green, at 05:00 on 24 April 2022.
The two officers approached a white Ford van which Sandiford was driving, and cut it off as it approached a side road.
Jurors were told the pair tried to stop the vehicle and Newman used his baton to strike at the driver’s side, opened the driver’s door and tried to pull Sandiford out.
Sandiford held his hands up as he got out of the vehicle and Newman shouted at him to get on to his knees while pointing a Taser at him, the court heard.
Sandiford bent his knees slightly before running away, and was pursued by the two officers.
Newman fired his Taser twice during the chase and twice when Sandiford had scaled the wall of the shed, jurors were told.
After the first shot while Sandiford was on the wall, he “gave out a yell but continued on his way”, Sheikh said.
The second discharge incapacitated Sandiford, leading him to lose control of his muscles and fall to the ground.
The trial continues.