A police officer who headbutted a 14-year-old schoolboy, leaving him with ‘unquantifiable’ emotional damage has been spared jail today.
PC Karl Bartlett, had pulled over Lee Rosier, on suspicion of driving while using his mobile phone, near Hanger Lane, in west London. But rather than arrest the Mr Rosier, he attacked the youngster, opening the passenger door before lunging at the teenager.
Bartlett was convicted of common assault last month and sentenced to three months jail, a sentence that was suspended for 12 months at Westminster Magistrates Court.
Judge Daphne Wickham said: ‘You engaged in a process which when dealing with those situations, is flawed. ‘It would be wrong to say you put yourself onto the tarmac , firstly to set your sights on the front passenger and that you deliberately intended to assault that passenger.
‘By the time you got the front door you engaged in something that should have never happened. ‘It was unlawful, on a young school boy, who had never been involved with the police. ‘The physical injuries of the complainant are light, but the emotional injuries are quite unquantifiable. ‘The momentary abuse of power is an aggravating feature.’
Prosecuting Piers Von Berg, said the schoolboy suffered facial injuries and has been anxious since the attack. ‘He is worried about the officers in the case finding out his address where he lives and doing something terrible to him,’ Mr Von Berg said.
Ben Brandan, defending, said Bartlett did not take the time to assess the situation when he approached the car - but his actions had not been deliberate. ‘When he left the police van, he did not assess the situation in front of him,’ said Mr Brandan. ‘He goes in a gung-ho fashion. This was accidental reckless contact due to removing him from the vehicle, swinging him around him making contact with a car. ‘It is a consequence of using too much force, he is a big strong man on a lighter, smaller teenager.’
He added that the former soldier, Bartlett was a man of exemplary previous character. ‘In relation to costs and compensation, he would be able to pay some amounts but his employment may be in doubt due to the judgements of this court.’
The former soldier was sentenced to 18 hours community service and ordered to pay £500 costs with £500 compensation to the victim.
Original report here
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