Former Avon and Somerset Police officer accused of intimidating woman on train
The PC denies repeatedly abusing a woman on a train from London to the West Country while off duty
An off duty Avon and Somerset Police officer left a woman fearing for her safety, while on a train back to the West Country from London, a misconduct hearing has heard.
The officer, PC Steven Marshall who has since resigned, allegedly boarded the train drunk having been to watch a Chelsea football match in 2021, before sitting in first class without a ticket.
The panel heard he produced his police warrant card when approached by a ticket officer and then spent the whole trip poking fun at a woman sat in a single seat across the aisle, including multiple jibes that she was posh and must think he was “scum”.
The panel heard she was actually in first class because she was terrified of Covid and needed space.
The misconduct hearing heard claims that PC Marshall, who was a student officer based in Bridgwater, “generated a feeling of resentment” towards the woman from a train packed with football and rugby fans, which was supposed to have nine coaches but had only five.
The woman, referred to as Ms A, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told day one of the police misconduct hearing at force headquarters in Portishead on Monday, June 12, that many passengers were already angry that they had to stand because it was “ridiculously overcrowded”.
She said the officer was treated as a “hero” by others for making them laugh at her expense during the journey on November 6, 2021, and that it was like a “pack mentality”.
Ms A told the hearing: “I was so squashed and so frightened.
“I was trying to be invisible but he was very loudly mocking me.
“At this point I was so frightened that I put my face right against the window.”
The woman said that it was only at the end of her journey to Taunton when there were fewer passengers that she felt able to tell PC Marshall: “You have intimidated a lone female passenger for over two hours. You should know better.”
She said he apologised but told her it had just been a joke.
Barrister Joanne Kane, representing the constabulary, told the panel that PC Marshall took a seat with a friend in first class and said loudly: “I know my rights, I’m not moving, let’s see how it goes.”
She said that when asked for a ticket by the female train manager, he showed his warrant card, identified himself falsely as a British Transport Police (BTP) officer and told her: “I’m not moving, I’m entitled to be here.”
Ms Kane said that when the manager asked him to vacate the seat, he replied: “Take my badge and tell someone who cares.”
She said the officer “mimicked and harassed” Ms A and made inappropriate comments while looking at her about first-class passengers having gold toilets and receiving special treatment.
“She was a target for mockery”, Ms Kane said.
The barrister said he acted disrespectfully, lacked self-control, sought to override the authority of the train manager and was rude to her and the passenger.
She said he discriminated against Ms A based on her sex and caused her distress and worry for her safety,
“He created an intimidating, hostile, degrading or humiliating environment,” she said.
Ms Kane said his conduct was likely to undermine public confidence in the police service and amounted to gross misconduct.
PC Marshall, who has chosen not to attend or be represented at the hearing, said in a written account that it had not been his intention in showing his badge to get a first-class seat and that it was to make the train manager feel comfortable that he would not cause trouble.
He denied being drunk, derogatory or offensive, causing distress, identifying himself as a BTP officer or saying he was entitled to the seat.
PC Marshall denied directing any comments to Ms A who he said had a grudge against the sports fans on the train.
The hearing was told that PC Marshall had a valid standard-class ticket but that his seat was on one of the coaches that had been withdrawn from the service.
The former officer, who joined the force in March 2020 on a police degree apprenticeship and resigned in February 2022 is accused of breaching the standards of professional behaviour for police officers in terms of discreditable conduct; honesty and integrity; equality and diversity; and authority, respect and courtesy.
The hearing continues.