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08/09/2010
Police Officer Jailed For Cell Assault
A police officer who injured a woman in an assault in a police cell has been jailed for six months.
Sergeant Mark Andrews, 37, was captured on CCTV dragging 59-year-old Pamela Somerville across the floor of Melksham police station in Wiltshire, before shoving her into a cell.
Andrews was convicted of assault causing actual bodily harm during a trial at Oxford Magistrates Court in July.
He had been suspended on full pay following the incident, which happened in on July 4 2008.
Ms Somerville had been arrested after being found asleep in her car and failing to provide a sample for a breath test.
The CCTV footage showed Ms Somerville lying on the floor after incident, before struggling to get to her feet. Blood was also seen pouring from a head wound.
She was taken to Royal United Hospital in Bath, where she required stitches to a wound above her eye.
Commenting on the case, Assistant Chief Constable Patrick Geenty said: "We are extremely concerned when anyone is injured whilst in our custody and the court has decided that this injury was a result of a criminal assault by Sergeant Mark Andrews, a member of Wiltshire Police who was performing duty as a Custody Sergeant at the time. Wiltshire Police has formally apologised to the injured lady for the assault she suffered whilst in our care.
"People have a right to expect that the police will always act by placing the safety and welfare of the public as their first priority. This is particularly so when in police custody when, irrespective of the reason for their detention, people should feel and be safe.
"This incident should not have happened and I am very sorry that we let this lady down."
(KMcA/GK)
Sergeant Mark Andrews, 37, was captured on CCTV dragging 59-year-old Pamela Somerville across the floor of Melksham police station in Wiltshire, before shoving her into a cell.
Andrews was convicted of assault causing actual bodily harm during a trial at Oxford Magistrates Court in July.
He had been suspended on full pay following the incident, which happened in on July 4 2008.
Ms Somerville had been arrested after being found asleep in her car and failing to provide a sample for a breath test.
The CCTV footage showed Ms Somerville lying on the floor after incident, before struggling to get to her feet. Blood was also seen pouring from a head wound.
She was taken to Royal United Hospital in Bath, where she required stitches to a wound above her eye.
Commenting on the case, Assistant Chief Constable Patrick Geenty said: "We are extremely concerned when anyone is injured whilst in our custody and the court has decided that this injury was a result of a criminal assault by Sergeant Mark Andrews, a member of Wiltshire Police who was performing duty as a Custody Sergeant at the time. Wiltshire Police has formally apologised to the injured lady for the assault she suffered whilst in our care.
"People have a right to expect that the police will always act by placing the safety and welfare of the public as their first priority. This is particularly so when in police custody when, irrespective of the reason for their detention, people should feel and be safe.
"This incident should not have happened and I am very sorry that we let this lady down."
(KMcA/GK)
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