PC who attacked homeless boy gets suspended sentence

The Wiltshire Police officer has been suspended from the force

A police officer who assaulted a homeless boy with learning difficulties has been given a suspended prison sentence and ordered to complete more than 200 hours of community work.

Wiltshire Police PC Lee Prince, 52, used "force to the face" and mocked the boy, who was 17 and homeless at the time, while he was detaining him outside of a shop on suspicion of criminal damage in April 2023.

Prince, from Hook, Wiltshire, was sentenced earlier at Westminster Magistrates’ Court for common assault.

He has been suspended from the force which said it expects "the very highest standards of conduct from our officers".

Prince was found guilty following a trial at the City of London Magistrates’ Court in March and was sentenced to 16 weeks’ imprisonment suspended for 12 months.

He must also complete 240 hours of unpaid work and was ordered to pay £775 trial costs, £500 compensation and a £154 victim surcharge.

The assault happened outside Liquor World in White Beam Court, Swindon.

“Very depressed and reclusive”

The judge said the 17-year-old was “vulnerable due to his age” and because he had learning difficulties.

Prince was verbally abusive to the boy and called the teenager a “cretin”.

The boy explained in a victim impact statement read to the court on his behalf that he felt “ashamed and embarrassed”.

He sat at the back of the court as the judge heard he had become “very depressed and reclusive” since the violent episode and he now “struggles to interact and socialise with people”.

He also said he had nightmares about the assault.

“Plainly been an abuse of power”

The judge added: “At the time, you would not have known of his [the boy’s] personal circumstances or any learning difficulties, but there does not seem to be much by way of remorse.”

The court heard that Prince had no previous convictions, a 24-year career with the police and references from colleagues.

Mike Williams, defending, said there had “plainly been an abuse of power” but Prince was now in a situation that would have a “devastating impact on him, his family and future prospects for employment”.

Prince is also subject to an internal gross misconduct investigation with Wiltshire Police.

Deputy Chief Constable Craig Dibdin said: “Trust and confidence in policing is hard won and it is imperative that when someone from our own ranks falls short of the exacting standards, we apply the law without fear or favour.”