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Friday 19 November 2010

Cop, Cell Attack On CCTV Policeman Mark Andrews Faces Sack After Throwi...



Cop Filmed Throwing Woman Into Cell Share8 Share
10:40am UK, Sunday September 05, 2010

Sarah Gordon, Sky News Online

A policeman is facing the sack after being filmed on CCTV injuring a woman by throwing her into a cell.
Video footage showed Sergeant Mark Andrews dragging Pamela Somerville across the floor of Melksham Police Station, Wiltshire, before shoving her into the holding room.

Ms Somerville, then 57, had been arrested after being found sleeping in her car and allegedly refusing a breathalyser test.

She hit her head on the ground when she was thrown into the cell and sustained a gash above her eye.




Sgt Andrews has been found guilty of assault



In the security footage from the 2008 attack, she appears to be momentarily knocked out before staggering to her feet.

Blood can be seen dripping from her wound before she calls for help.

Ms Somerville, who had never been in trouble with police before, was taken to hospital and needed stitches after the incident.


What happened to me was extraordinary, terrifying, and no one should ever be treated in the same way again.

Pamela Somerville

Sgt Andrews, a former soldier, has since been found guilty of causing the woman actual bodily harm and is due to be sentenced at Oxford Magistrates' court on Tuesday.

Ms Somerville told The Mail on Sunday: "I still find it hard to watch the images of me staggering to my feet with blood pouring from a head wound because I can remember how terrified I was. I could have died."




A female PC was so concerned by Ms Somerville's treatment, she reported the matter to senior officers who then decided to bring a case against 37-year-old Sgt Andrews.

In a statement, Assistant Chief Constable Patrick Geenty said the force had apologised to Ms Somerville for the assault.

He also praised the police officer who reported the incident, despite finding herself in "a very difficult situation".

He added: "The public have a right to expect that the police will always act with their safety and welfare as their first priority."

Ms Somerville, who has since had the breathalyser case against her dropped, told the Mail: "What happened to me was extraordinary, terrifying, and no one should ever be treated in the same way again, no matter what they are said to have done

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqIH2EZMkFA

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