A police sergeant is facing the sack after being caught on CCTV injuring a woman by pushing her into a cell – leaving her with a black eye and blood pouring from her face
Sgt Mark Andrews, 37, is seen dragging Pamela Somerville, 59, across the floor of the police station before shoving her head first onto the ground.
The assault happened when Ms Somerville was arrested after being found asleep in her car and detained for failing to provide a sample for a breath test.
She was taken to Melksham police station in Wiltshire where she was filmed being grabbed in the lobby by custody sergeant Andrews, a former soldier.
CCTV footage shows Andrews dragging then throwing her ”like a rag doll” into a cell where she smashes her head and is knocked out.
She managed to get to her feet with blood dripping from her eye and called for help before another person comes to check her and paramedics were called.
Pamela was taken to the Royal United Hospital in Bath where she needed stitches in a gash above her eye and one side of her face has since slumped.
Andrews is now facing the sack after he was convicted of assault causing actual bodily harm at Oxford Magistrates’ Court.
The case was brought after another officer reported his behaviour and he will be sentenced today and is expected to lose his job.
Pamela, North Colerne, Wiltshire, said: ”I still find it hard to watch the images of me staggering to my feet with blood pouring from a head wound because I can remember how terrified I was.
”It seems utterly barbaric that an innocent person could be treated in such a horrific and violent way and then left alone, the fact that someone may even have been watching the CCTV footage of me not moving on the floor.
The incident happened in July 2008 after Pamela was found asleep in her car and taken to the police station and confronted by 6ft 3ins Andrews.
Officers claimed they had arrested her because she refused to provide a breath sample although police later dropped the case against her.
Pamela was left with long term health problems following the assault and now needs a cataract operation.
Andrews denied attacking her but was found guilty after a five-day trial and now faces up to six months in jail.
Speaking after the court hearing, Assistant Chief Constable Patrick Geenty apologised to Pamela and said he ”respected” the court’s decision.
He said: ”We are very concerned when anyone is injured while in our custody and the court has decided that this injury was as a result of a criminal assault by Sgt Mark Andrews.
”We respect the decision of the court and the force has formally apologised to the injured lady for the assault she suffered while in our care.”
