Essex Police officer handed suspended sentence for assault
He's been sentenced for assaulting a man after a traffic stop.
A police officer has been given a suspended sentence for assaulting a man after a traffic stop.
Pc Charlie Thompson, 25, of Essex Police, denied assaulting Zeki Badruddin by beating him, but was found guilty at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court on Monday.
Thompson, of Dedham Road, Boxted, wearing a dark suit and blue tie, was handed a 12-week prison sentence, suspended for a year.
He had gone to help colleagues after they stopped a Volkswagen Golf driver on suspicion of using a mobile phone behind the wheel on January 19, the trial heard.
A scuffle ensued between Mr Badruddin and officers, with police using incapacitant spray.
When Thompson arrived, Mr Badruddin was handcuffed and seated on the verge beside the A127 in Basildon, the court heard.
Mr Badruddin was arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker but was not prosecuted.
Prosecutor Micaila Williams said Thompson "went in like a bull in a China shop without asking questions or considering anything before he applied force".
He went up to Mr Badruddin and placed his hand "firmly" on his shoulder, later taking him to the ground, the Crown said.
He allegedly deployed an "elbow strike to the head area" of Mr Badruddin, and pushed him to the ground a second time.
District Judge Christopher Williams concluded that Thompson did not use reasonable force.
He said the elbow appeared to have been a "short, sharp strike as the Crown suggests".
He said: "In my view, you did not genuinely believe there was any threat from Mr Badruddin.
"I am satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that, Mr Thompson, you are guilty of assault.
"The police are entrusted by the public to carry out a very important job and part of that trust means that considerable powers and authority are placed in the hands of officers.
"I think you did abuse that trust and power placed upon you on that occasion.
"Your reactions, as far as Mr Badruddin was concerned, were in my view excessive and you had no real reason to believe you were under any real threat from him at the time."
The judge said the incident caused "relatively minor" physical harm to the complainant but stressed the psychological toll was likely to be greater.
Andrew McGee, defending, highlighted his client's "impeccable professional record".
He said Thompson's actions were "not calculated" and occurred in "circumstances of high stress".
Thompson must complete 100 hours of unpaid work within the next year.
He was also ordered to pay £600 towards the prosecution's costs, £150 in victim compensation and a £128 surcharge.