Policeman caught on CCTV assaulting woman
Updated on 05 September 2010
A policeman is facing jail after throwing a woman who fell asleep in her car onto the floor of a cell, it emerged today. Jane Deith explains the video footage.
Sgt Mark Andrews is shown dragging Pamela Somerville, 59, across the floor of the police station in Wiltshire before shoving her into a cell.
CCTV footage captured her lying on the floor for a minute before struggling to get up with blood pouring from a head wound.
Former soldier Sgt Andrews, 37, was found guilty of assault earlier this summer, although he denied it.
In July 2008, Ms Somerville was arrested after being found asleep in her car. She was detained for failing to provide a sample for a breath test. She always insisted she hadn't been drinking and no one ever asked for a breath sample - police later dropped the case.
Jane Deith explains the footage:
When Ms Somerville struggles Sgt Andrews walks round to the front of the custody desk, grabs her by the elbow and walks her to the cell - almost lifting her off her feet.
Later, Mrs Somerville is seen again right at the top of the CCTV picture - a police doctor has gone to her cell, and she has walked out of it.
A second time, Sgt Andrews takes her by the elbow and marches her to the cell. (pause) As she loses her footing, Andrews pulls her along the police station floor - dragging her by the wrist now.
This is when he shoves Ms Somerville through the cell door. Ms Somerville hits the floor face first. She's knocked unconscious and lies motionless for a minute. When she manages to get up, she's bleeding heavily from a gash above her eye.
Ms Somerville calls for help on the intercom. Sgt Andrews comes back - with the doctor. Ms Somerville is taken to hospital and is given stitches - still in handcuffs.
That evening she'll be brought back to the station and charged. Sgt Andrews was reported by a female police officer who saw the whole thing.
'Complex and difficult'
Sgt Andrews will be sentenced on Tuesday - he could get six months in prison and will almost certainly be sacked.
Wiltshire Police said today that policing is "complex and difficult" and sometimes guidelines are broken, but there is never any excuse for excessive behaviour.
"Despite the rigour and effectiveness of our systems and training, it will never be possible to provide a 100 per cent assurance that our guidelines, on occasions, will not be broken," the force said. "Whilst that is unpalatable, the reality is that policing is complex and difficult ,and again, there can never be any excuse for excessive behaviour by police officers or staff. We are determined to learn any lessons that emerge from this case."
