Off-duty Manchester-based PC who hit man in face with glass sacked
- Published
An off-duty police officer who struck a man with a glass while on a night out has been sacked, a force has said.
Manchester-based PC Niki Minev admitted drinking "significant quantities of alcohol" before causing a man "serious" facial injuries in October 2022, British Transport Police (BTP) said.
The force said he admitted grievous bodily harm at Liverpool Crown Court and would be sentenced in January.
He was dismissed for gross misconduct after a BTP disciplinary hearing.
The hearing on 11 December was told Minev was arrested after he hit a man in the face with a glass on 8 October 2022 whilst off duty.
It heard he "readily admitted he had consumed significant quantities of alcohol prior to committing the offence".
"Whilst this may have led him to behave in a way which was out of character, his responsibility in allowing himself to affected by alcohol to that extent is in itself an element of his culpability," it was told.
'Harmed public confidence'
The hearing was also told Minev later apologised to the man and subsequently admitted causing grievous bodily harm in court.
The disciplinary panel, chaired by BTP Chief Constable Lucy D'Orsi, found the allegations against Minev had been proven and amounted to gross misconduct, meaning he was dismissed without notice.
Speaking afterward, Ms D'Orsi said the public expected police officers, "both on and off duty, to protect them from violent and disorderly behaviour".
"PC Minev did the opposite," she said.
"His violent actions caused serious and lasting injury to his victim and have harmed public confidence in policing.
"There is no place in BTP for someone like that.
"I had no hesitation in dismissing him without notice."
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