West Midlands Police officer, 26, convicted of 'grabbing and elbowing' woman
West Midlands Police officer PC Calum Brand acted with “excessive” force and then blamed a female colleague for what happened.
A West Midlands Police officer has been convicted of assaulting a mother when he lost his temper after she hit him in the back while he was helping to arrest her aggressive partner.
PC Calum Brand grabbed the Sophie Meese by the neck and hair during the incident in a stairwell at flats in Cradley near Halesowen on June 16 last year.
However, following a trial at Nottingham Magistrates Court on Wednesday he was found guilty of assaulting her by beating. District Judge Katy Rafter described his actions being “wholly unnecessary disproportionate” and “excessive” for the situation.
The court heard the 26-year-old, of Kidderminster, was among four officers sent to the premises following reports of a domestic disturbance involving the victim’s partner Adam Manson who was drunk. They got Mr Manson, who was wanted for breaching a court order, out of the flat and down to the bottom of the stairs when Miss Meese followed them.
Giving prosecution evidence Miss Mesee said: “I heard a commotion and shouting. I didn’t hear the words. I went to see what was going on. I remember seeing three officers on top off Adam who was on the floor. The officer in question was was facing outwards and I’m sure he was kind of kneeling on Adam. I can remember coming down the stairs and saying ‘Adam calm down’ and that’s when the situation happened.
“The defendant was swinging round sharply on me. That’s when I felt the elbow in my face. The situation just got out of hand. PC Brand was quite close to him. It’s been said that I hit him sharply and that I attacked him on the shoulder. I can’t remember that. As he swung round I put my hands up like this (lifting both hands). At that point he elbowed me on the lip (pointing to her mouth).
“I was still standing on the stairs. The officer stood up and swung round at me.”
The bodycam footage which was played in court showed her coming downstairs and approaching Brand from behind and making contact with his back. He asks a colleague to arrest her for assaulting a police officer. Photographs of the victim's bruised arms and legs were also shown.
Brand is also seen on the video pushing a female officer out of the way to get to the victim before leaning on her legs to restrain her with using the ‘forearm strike’ method.
Giving evidence Brand, of Lea Street, Kidderminster, said: “I grabbed her to gain control. I was on her right and got hold of her right arm.” He also claimed the female officer did nothing to assist him during the incident “as the risk increased” and he acted to gain control of the situation by grabbing Miss Meese’s neck to pull her downwards. He told the court he acted “proportionately, ethically and lawfully” to deal with the “stressful” situation which involved” a known dangerous offender”, in reference to Mr Manson. He added he had dealt with a different violent offender earlier the same shift.
However, the judge rejected his explanation and said despite “extreme difficulties” police officers were expected to behave appropriately. She said: “I am satisfied so that I am sure that you PC Brand went well beyond was required and that you in the heat of the moment lost your temper and elbowed her in the face.”
Following the incident the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) launched an investigation after a mandatory conduct referral made by West Midlands Police.
Under cross-examination by defence barrister Liz Power, Miss Meese agreed that she has applied for compensation in relation to the incident.
Brand, a former prison officer, will be sentenced in September. He was granted bail.