Sgt shame: a disgrace to the uniform
VETERAN POLICE SERGEANT JAILED FOR ASSAULT
A POLICE sergeant was jailed in shame yesterday for attacking a man in his own home.
Stephen Light, a Northumbria Police sergeant, “took the law into his own hands” and waded into an ongoing dispute between his father, stepmother and their neighbour, Andrew Grant
A court heard the row centred on noise nuisance and was under investigation by a council.
As Light headed home in the early hours of April 11, after downing ten pints over several hours, he entered Mr Grant’s home in Workington, Cumbria, uninvited and unannounced.
It was at that point his “simmering resentment” over the domestic row “boiled over”, Carlisle Crown Court heard.
Light, of Bede Close, Holystone North Tyneside, grabbed Mr Grant in a headlock and struck him to the back of his head with a metal kitchen roll holder.
Mr Grant suffered an 8cm wound which needed seven stitches, and was left scarred. Part of the makeshift weapon was discovered embedded in a damaged door as police arrived at the scene after the householder frantically dialled 999.
Light - a Northumbria Police sergeant with 23 years’ service on the force before his dismissal - was arrested following his attack.
In a custody suite he was recorded saying: “Regardless of my occupation, I feel let down by the police; I feel let down by the council; I’m in fear for my family’s life; if I’m let out, I’ll kill him.”
Light denied an unlawful wounding charge, claiming he had intended to make a lawful arrest believing a threat had been made to his parents’ home.
But the 44-yearold was convicted by a jury after going on trial.
Light was jailed for twoand-a-half years. A victim impact statement read: “I could have been killed. I am lucky to be alive.”
Light, whose career and reputation were now to be in “tatters”, was jailed by Recorder Julie Clemitson for what she said had been a “determined and sustained attack”.
Paul Tweddle, mitigating, said Light’s 23-year police career had ended last week with his dismissal.
“His career is in tatters. His reputation is in tatters,” said Mr Tweddle. “He is fully aware of the shame he has brought on himself and his family. It was the complainant’s own home, and that should have been sacrosanct.”
Mr Tweddle added: “Quite clearly, as a police officer, he has over-stepped the mark. Quite clearly, in that capacity as a public servant, he should have known better.”
The court heard Light had a drinkdrive conviction dating back to 1996 when he was a probationary police officer. Commendations and references attested to his good work with the force, although the court heard there were “some negatives” on his record.
As well as the prison sentence, an indefinite restraining order was imposed on Light to prevent further contact with Mr Grant.
After the case, Gerard Rogerson, for the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “As a police officer, Stephen Light would have been well aware of what is considered to be acceptable and lawful behaviour. However, whilst off duty and intoxicated, he took the law into his own hands by going into a man’s house uninvited and assaulting him. “Throughout the case, Light denied the assault, and made a counter allegation that Mr Grant had assaulted him. However, we presented a strong case of evidence to the jury which proved that he was the aggressor, which resulted in them finding him guilty of assault.”
I could have been killed. I am lucky to be alive Andrew Grant - victim of Police Sergeant Stephen Light