West Midlands Police officer who grabbed and elbowed woman in face is sentenced
A police officer has been sentenced for 'grabbing and elbowing' woman
A West Midlands police officer who acted with “excessive” force by grabbing and elbowing a woman in the face while helping to arrest her partner has been sentenced by a district judge.
It was also revealed that a misconduct hearing found that PC Calum Brand, of Kidderminster, committed gross misconduct proven on the basis that he breached the police professional standard of discreditable conduct through his conviction for a criminal offence.
On Monday Brand, who grabbed the victim Sophie Meese by the neck and hair “in the heat of the moment” during the incident which happened in at flats in Cradley near Halesowen on June 16 , 2025 - was sentenced for assault at Nottingham Magistrates Court.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) launched an investigation after a mandatory conduct referral made by the force.
The 27-year-old was among four officers sent to the premises following reports of a domestic disturbance involving the injured party’s partner Adam Manson.
The officers got drunk 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.
However, bodycam footage showed Miss Meese coming downstairs and approaching Brand from behind and making contact with his back.
He shouted at her in the scuffling, during which her top became dislodged, and he asked a colleague to arrest her for assaulting a police officer.
Brand, of Lea Street, Kidderminster, claimed he grabbed the complainant and pulled her downwards by the neck to gain control of the situation and he claimed a female officer who was present with the response teams did nothing to assist him during the incident “as the risk increased”.
He is also seen on the video pushing the 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. Miss Meese sustained bruised arms and legs.
Following his trial in July the judge rejected his explanation and said despite “extreme difficulties” police officers were expected to behave appropriately. She also 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.”
For the offence of assault by beating Brand was fined £764, ordered to pays costs £65 and victims’ surcharge £144. He was also given a 12-month community order with requirements to carry out 150 hours unpaid work.
IOPC director Derrick Campbell said: “This was a challenging situation for the officers. The man was clearly drunk, largely incoherent, and there was a struggle in the stairwell. The woman tried to intervene and PC Brand’s response was disproportionate and unnecessary.
“There was no justification for the level of force he used and no attempt to de-escalate the situation. The woman did not pose a genuine threat to PC Brand and, to that point, had not shown any aggression towards the officers.
“The woman suffered facial injuries at the hands of an officer who should have been there to help protect and safeguard her.”
Mr Campbell added that the investigation concluded that PC Brand had a case to answer for gross misconduct. The hearing was held on September 2.