Officer cleared of teen punch
A JUDGE told a police officer who was accused of punching a 14-year-old boy that he thinks he committed the offence – before finding him not guilty.
A JUDGE told a police officer who was accused of punching a 14-year-old boy that he thinks he committed the offence – before finding him not guilty.
PC Paul Evans had been accused of punching a teenager three times and forcing his arm against his throat.
Last week, on Wednesday, October 24, he was acquitted of assault by beating.
During a three-day trial at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court, evidence heard the Bridgend officer had been called to the boy’s family home in January after reports the teenager was “punching walls” and “smashing up” the house.
Prosecutor Vaughan Pritchard-Jones alleged PC Evans, 50, became “frustrated” at the situation after the boy refused to open the bathroom door he was locked in and told the officer to “f*** off”.
In his evidence, the boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, claimed the officer forced the bathroom door open before putting his forearm against the boy’s throat and punching him three times in the face.
But PC Evans, from Bridgend, said the teenager had “fabricated” the incident and instead “face planted” the floor following a struggle over a mobile phone.
Giving his verdict in court yesterday, District Judge Bodfan Jenkins dismissed claims the officer had become frustrated but said he believed the defendant punched the boy.
He said: “Despite the issues I have said with regard to evidence, I have to say I think the defendant did this.
“It is more likely than not that the defendant acted as alleged but that is not sufficient.”
The judge said he must be satisfied to a higher degree of certainty before convicting the officer.
He said: “That means that the defendant is entitled to his acquittal. I find him not guilty.”
Susan Ferrier, defending, described the boy as “manipulative” and said the teenager had become angry after being arrested by PC Evans for threatening to harm himself and others with a knife.
The boy was later released without charge.
She said: “[The family] were angry that they were not getting their own way and [the boy] was angry that he was being arrested.
“Someone had to be blamed for this and the obvious person to blame of course is the person who is carrying out the arrest.”
The court also heard the boy had previously made a hoax call to police reporting a nail bomb at his school and had falsely accused his uncle of assault.
During the trial, staff members at South Wales Police described PC Evans as a “trusted” officer and community rugby coach who had received a commendation for saving a man from a river and who had experience working with children with behavioural difficulties.
In a statement issued after the acquittal, Catrin Evans, IOPC director for Wales, said: “The IOPC carried out a thorough investigation into the use of force which led to the Crown Prosecution Service decision to prosecute PC Evans.
“We have found that PC Evans also has a case to answer for gross misconduct.
“Disciplinary proceedings are currently under consideration between the force and the IOPC.”