Police custody ‘torture’ victim compensated

Warning: you may find parts of this video distressing

The attack was condemned as a form of torture by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).

David Healer screamed in pain as he was assaulted by police custody sergeant Stephen Harvey and civilian detention officer Michael Mount after his arrest in County Durham in March 2011.

Harvey, 50, and Mount, 61, were each convicted of two counts of common assault at a trial at Teesside Magistrates’ Court in March. They have now been ordered to pay £50 each to Mr Healer as compensation.

Harvey was told to pay £1,395 in fines and costs for his role in the attack, while Mount was told to pay a total of £730.

CCTV footage of the incident at Peterlee police station was played to the court. It showed Harvey twisting Mr Healer’s arm behind his back as Mount held his other arm.

Mr Healer was then grabbed by both wrists across the custody suite desk by both defendants after again refusing to answer questions. The DIY shop boss, who sat in the public gallery to watch the sentencing, left the courtroom wiping his eyes as his screams were played.

The 48-year-old, of Seaham, County Durham, who had recently been treated in hospital and is an angina sufferer, told the trial he thought he would die in the assault.

He is repeatedly heard requesting a doctor on the footage.

Harvey, of Chester-le-Street, and Mount, of Thornley, both County Durham, argued that they used reasonable force to restrain Mr Healer, who had been arrested on suspicion of breaching bail conditions and assaulting a police officer.