Hackney policeman found guilty of assaulting mentally ill prisoner

Shoreditch Police Station. Photograph: wikimedia

A Hackney policeman has been found guilty of assaulting a mentally ill prisoner by twisting his ear and standing on his foot after he refused to pick up pieces of paper from the floor.

Sgt Charles Pilbeam, 30, of Hackney police, pleaded not guilty to the assault which took place in March last year.

The 27 year old man had been searched under the Misuse of Drugs Act by other officers at Shoreditch Police Station before he was assaulted by Sgt Pilbeam.

Sgt Pilbeam pleaded not guilty to two counts of common assault but was convicted following a trial. He will be sentenced on 7 August at St Albans Crown Court.

Another officer, who was on duty at the time, reported the incident to MPS Directorate of Professional Standards (DPS) which launched an investigation and summoned the officer for the offence in November 2013.

Fiona Taylor, DPS Deputy Assistant Commissioner, said that Sgt Pilbeam’s actions were “inexcusable”.

“Sergeant Pilbeam’s actions towards a vulnerable man are inexcusable and have no place in the Met.

“I commend the actions of the officer who had the strength of character and belief that if he reported this wrongdoing it would be dealt with appropriately.

“We must remember that MPS officers and staff engage with the public millions of times each year and the vast majority of those contacts are carried out with professionalism and courtesy.”