Officer ‘fuelled violent and criminal tendencies’ of boy, 11

AN “old school” police officer fuelled the “violent and criminal tendencies” of an 11-year-old boy by shouting at him and grabbing his arm, a misconduct hearing was told.

Pc Stuart Pearson’s actions when he tackled the child served to exacerbate the boy’s “hatred” towards the police, it was heard. The 48-year-old officer’s 20-year-long career with Hampshire Constabulary is now at risk after he was accused of gross misconduct.

In June 2022 Pc Pearson and a junior female colleague, identified only as Pc Rich, attended the boy’s home on the Isle of Wight to speak to him after he allegedly hit two youngsters. The boy’s father was present and was “encouraging his son to listen to the officers”.

Pc Pearson asked the boy: “Why did you whack them?”, to which the boy, who can’t be named for legal reasons, replied “Why not?” The constable, raising his voice, told him: “Excuse me, don’t talk to me like that, boy. You don’t start talking to me like that – do you understand?”

Barrister Alan Jenkins, representing Hampshire Constabulary, told the hearing: “The boy was clearly reluctant to engage; dismissive and rude to the officers. This led Pc Pearson to overreact, raising his voice and putting his face near to the boy’s.”

Mr Jenkins said the accompanying officer, Pc Rich, described her senior colleague’s approach as “old school” and said he “escalated the situation”. He continued: “The situation developed by Pc Pearson grabbing the boy’s arm and there was a short struggle in which the boy’s head hit the wall, whereby he sustained some minor injuries. The boy’s father demanded that both officers leave the house, which they did.” As they left, the schoolboy swore at them, shouting: “F---ing pig c--ts ... don’t ever f---ing touch me like that again.”

Pc Pearson denies gross misconduct. The hearing continues.