ianstone
08-02-2010, 02:02 PM
Special PC 'Excessively' Assaulted Soldier
Share (http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.sky.com%2Fskynews%2 FHome%2FUK-News%2FSpecial-Constable-Guilty-Of-Excessive-Assault-On-Drunken-Off-Duty-Soldier%2FArticle%2F201008115675268%3Flpos%3DUK_Ne ws_Top_Stories_Header_2%26lid%3DARTICLE_15675268_S pecial_Constable_Guilty_Of_Excessive_Assault_On_Dr unken_Off-Duty_Soldier&t=Special%20Constable%20Guilty%20Of%20'Excessive'% 20Assault%20On%20Drunken%20Off-Duty%20Soldier%20%7C%20UK%20News%20%7C%20Sky%20New s&src=sp)
Share (http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Special-Constable-Guilty-Of-Excessive-Assault-On-Drunken-Off-Duty-Soldier/Article/201008115675268?lpos=UK_News_Top_Stories_Header_2&lid=ARTICLE_15675268_Special_Constable_Guilty_Of_E xcessive_Assault_On_Dr#bookmarkForm)
Comments (3) (http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Special-Constable-Guilty-Of-Excessive-Assault-On-Drunken-Off-Duty-Soldier/Article/201008115675268?lpos=UK_News_Top_Stories_Header_2&lid=ARTICLE_15675268_Special_Constable_Guilty_Of_E xcessive_Assault_On_Dr#comments)
5:36pm UK, Monday August 02, 2010
Alison Chung, Sky News Online
A special constable has been found guilty of assaulting a drunken off-duty soldier in a "violent, excessive and unjustified" attack.
Peter Lightfoot, 40, was convicted after jurors were shown CCTV footage of him pushing Lance Corporal Mark Aspinall's head to the ground and striking him with a police helmet.
The attack on the soldier, who served in Afghanistan and Iraq, took place in July 2008 outside the Walkabout bar in Wigan, Greater Manchester.
Police were called to the town centre bar after L/Cpl Aspinall was thrown off the premises.
The soldier had caused a disturbance by allegedly shouting racial abuse at door staff, Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court heard.
Lightfoot and two other officers then attempted to arrest L/Cpl Aspinall in the middle of the road.
The court heard that the soldier allegedly obstructed paramedics who attempted to treat a woman who had collapsed.
L/Cpl Aspinall was himself initially charged and convicted on two counts of attacking the police officers by Wigan magistrates who did not view the CCTV.
... in this incident Special Constable Lightfoot's training would appear to have been replaced by a red mist. His actions were violent, excessive and unjustified.
IPCC commissioner Naseem Mali
Ultra PC
But he later won an appeal to have the verdict quashed, as the judge cited concerns about the actions of the officers.
Lightfoot was convicted of assault and one count of perjury, which concerned evidence he gave about the incident with L/Cpl Aspinall.
Two other police officers involved in the incident, Sergeant Stephen Russell, 34, and PC Richard Kelsall, 29, were both cleared of assault and perverting the course of justice.
The charges were brought following an investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (http://www.ipcc.gov.uk/).
Following the verdicts, the watchdog's commissioner Naseem Malik said: "It is clear from the evidence that Mr Aspinall was drunk, aggressive and causing a nuisance.
"He was exhibiting the kind of behaviour that police officers have the unfortunate duty to deal with on a regular basis. That is why officers are trained to deal with such individuals in a professional manner.
"However, in this incident Special Constable Lightfoot's training would appear to have been replaced by a red mist. His actions were violent, excessive and unjustified."
Lightfoot will be sentenced on September 1.
I wish you could see the video, what a tragic loss of a serving soldier.
Two other coppers got away with, perverting the couse of justice.
That is well out of order ! !
Share (http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.sky.com%2Fskynews%2 FHome%2FUK-News%2FSpecial-Constable-Guilty-Of-Excessive-Assault-On-Drunken-Off-Duty-Soldier%2FArticle%2F201008115675268%3Flpos%3DUK_Ne ws_Top_Stories_Header_2%26lid%3DARTICLE_15675268_S pecial_Constable_Guilty_Of_Excessive_Assault_On_Dr unken_Off-Duty_Soldier&t=Special%20Constable%20Guilty%20Of%20'Excessive'% 20Assault%20On%20Drunken%20Off-Duty%20Soldier%20%7C%20UK%20News%20%7C%20Sky%20New s&src=sp)
Share (http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Special-Constable-Guilty-Of-Excessive-Assault-On-Drunken-Off-Duty-Soldier/Article/201008115675268?lpos=UK_News_Top_Stories_Header_2&lid=ARTICLE_15675268_Special_Constable_Guilty_Of_E xcessive_Assault_On_Dr#bookmarkForm)
Comments (3) (http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Special-Constable-Guilty-Of-Excessive-Assault-On-Drunken-Off-Duty-Soldier/Article/201008115675268?lpos=UK_News_Top_Stories_Header_2&lid=ARTICLE_15675268_Special_Constable_Guilty_Of_E xcessive_Assault_On_Dr#comments)
5:36pm UK, Monday August 02, 2010
Alison Chung, Sky News Online
A special constable has been found guilty of assaulting a drunken off-duty soldier in a "violent, excessive and unjustified" attack.
Peter Lightfoot, 40, was convicted after jurors were shown CCTV footage of him pushing Lance Corporal Mark Aspinall's head to the ground and striking him with a police helmet.
The attack on the soldier, who served in Afghanistan and Iraq, took place in July 2008 outside the Walkabout bar in Wigan, Greater Manchester.
Police were called to the town centre bar after L/Cpl Aspinall was thrown off the premises.
The soldier had caused a disturbance by allegedly shouting racial abuse at door staff, Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court heard.
Lightfoot and two other officers then attempted to arrest L/Cpl Aspinall in the middle of the road.
The court heard that the soldier allegedly obstructed paramedics who attempted to treat a woman who had collapsed.
L/Cpl Aspinall was himself initially charged and convicted on two counts of attacking the police officers by Wigan magistrates who did not view the CCTV.
... in this incident Special Constable Lightfoot's training would appear to have been replaced by a red mist. His actions were violent, excessive and unjustified.
IPCC commissioner Naseem Mali
Ultra PC
But he later won an appeal to have the verdict quashed, as the judge cited concerns about the actions of the officers.
Lightfoot was convicted of assault and one count of perjury, which concerned evidence he gave about the incident with L/Cpl Aspinall.
Two other police officers involved in the incident, Sergeant Stephen Russell, 34, and PC Richard Kelsall, 29, were both cleared of assault and perverting the course of justice.
The charges were brought following an investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (http://www.ipcc.gov.uk/).
Following the verdicts, the watchdog's commissioner Naseem Malik said: "It is clear from the evidence that Mr Aspinall was drunk, aggressive and causing a nuisance.
"He was exhibiting the kind of behaviour that police officers have the unfortunate duty to deal with on a regular basis. That is why officers are trained to deal with such individuals in a professional manner.
"However, in this incident Special Constable Lightfoot's training would appear to have been replaced by a red mist. His actions were violent, excessive and unjustified."
Lightfoot will be sentenced on September 1.
I wish you could see the video, what a tragic loss of a serving soldier.
Two other coppers got away with, perverting the couse of justice.
That is well out of order ! !