Hackney officer found guilty of assault spared jail

Shoreditch Police Station. Photograph: wikimedia

A Hackney police officer who assaulted a mentally ill Somalian prisoner in Shoreditch Police Station in March last year has walked free from court.

Sgt Charles Pilbeam, 30, attacked the prisoner after he was searched under the Misuse of Drugs Act by twisting his ear and standing on his foot after he refused to pick up pieces of paper from the floor.

The Hackney officer was found guilty of two counts of common assault at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 25 July.

Previously, Sgt Pilbeam was also found guilty of common assault and criminal damage in relation to an off duty matter involving an altercation with a taxi driver, which took place on 6 February 2014.

Following a trial at St Albans Magistrates’ Court, Sergeant Charles Pilbeam was handed a two year suspended sentence.

He was also ordered to undertake 250 hours of unpaid work and pay compensation to each of the victims.

Sgt Pilbeam remains suspended pending discipline proceedings.