Neil Wilby Media

A former West Yorkshire Police officer, ex-PC Scott Walton, who head-butted a handcuffed prisoner twice in the back of a police van has been found guilty of gross misconduct.

The incident occurred on 18th February, 2023 at West Point, Wellington Street, Leeds (pictured above) following the arrest of a male suspect after a report of a domestic incident. The officer was repeatedly verbally abused and struck by the suspect’s head during the course of the arrest.

Ex-PC Walton resigned from the force in October, 2023 after pleading guilty to a charge of assault.

A misconduct panel convened on 17th May, 2024 at West Yorkshire Police HQ, Laburnum Road, Wakefield, decided that he would have been dismissed for the incident in any event.

Presenting the case for the police’s Appropriate Authority, Head of Legal Services, Mike Percival, said PC Walton had attended a property in West Point, along with a colleague, after a report of a domestic incident.

He said a man was arrested at the apartment, handcuffed behind his back and led back to a police van.

The Panel heard that the suspect became verbally abusive and head-butted PC Walton as he sat in the back of the van, at which point the officer lost his temper and responded by head-butting him in the face and head, twice.

Following this attack on the detained person, PC Walton was pulled away by his colleague and prevented from returning the van in an agitated state as he continued to abuse the suspect with foul language. This occurred in the presence of other police officers and members of the public

Mr Percival said the officer involved in the assault reported the incident to his supervisor, as soon as he returned to the police station, and was subsequently arrested.

In later police interviews PC Walton initially claimed his use of force was necessary and proportionate to prevent an attack on him and his colleague.

But that defence was not repeated at Manchester and Salford Magistrates’ Court when he appeared, charged with assault, on 29th August, 2023.

He pleaded guilty and was sentenced in October, 2023 to a 12-month community order, a rehabilitation activity requirement, fined £600, ordered to pay £85 costs and a victim surcharge of £114.

The Panel also heard that ex-PC Walton had been a police officer for three years and concerns had been raised previously about his behaviour and demeanour with difficult suspects, although on one occasion he had been praised for his handling of a similar situation.

It was not disclosed at the hearing whether the prisoner had suffered any injuries as a consequence of the officer’s assault upon him.

Summing up, the Panel’s Legally Qualified Chair, Stephen Gowland, said the matter was so serious that gross misconduct was proven and only dismissal from the force without notice would have been sufficient punishment for PC Walton.

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Page last updated: Sunday 19th May, 2024 at 0925 hours

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