Justice Served: Client Found Not Guilty of Assaulting Two Police Officers
Case Study Summary
Our client was accused of assaulting two police officers after being stopped under Section 1 of PACE. Following robust representation, including expert analysis of CCTV evidence, our client was acquitted of all charges.
Case Study
Our client, a 32-year-old man with no prior criminal record, was charged with assaulting two police officers. The officers alleged that they stopped our client after observing him "interfering" with roadworks and that he subsequently struggled, kicked out, and placed his hands around one officer's throat—prompting the use of the officer’s emergency alarm.
Our client denied all allegations. He explained that he was standing up fallen roadwork barriers to prevent children from playing near a hazardous area. He maintained that the police had no grounds to stop him and denied any physical altercation, claiming instead that the officers were aggressive toward him. He further stated that he pressed the officer's emergency button to alert for help, fearing for his own safety.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) proceeded with the case despite our submission of key evidence. CCTV footage, provided by a neighbour, showed our client repositioning barriers and being approached by the officers. The footage depicted him being grabbed and taken to the ground by one officer. Crucially, at no point did the footage show our client kicking or placing his hands near the officer’s neck.
Initially, the CPS rejected the CCTV footage due to its non-standard format. We instructed an expert to convert the footage into a compliant evidential format, ensuring its admissibility in court.
At trial, our client was represented by Darren Jone of Bell Lamb and Joynson. During cross-examination, Darren skilfully challenged the officers’ actions under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE). The officers provided inconsistent explanations regarding their grounds for the stop. Although both maintained they were assaulted, they could not identify any such actions on the CCTV footage.
The cross-examination, combined with the diligent efforts of Senior Case Worker Peter Haney, who obtained and verified the critical evidence, resulted in our client's verdict of Not Guilty. He can now continue his life without the burden of these false allegations.
Get in Touch
If you or anyone you know has been arrested, we can provide you with the advice or support you need, don’t hesitate to contact us on 0344 412 4348.
We are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Trust our legal experts to help you avoid criminal charges, achieve a ‘not guilty’ verdict, or receive a reduced sentence than you originally faced.