Croydon: Met officer denies assaulting woman in bus fare arrest
- Published
The alleged assault occurred on Whitehorse Road in Croydon
A police officer has pleaded not guilty to assaulting a woman who was wrongly arrested for bus fare evasion in front of her young son in south London.
PC Perry Lathwood, 49, of Normans Bay, East Sussex, is charged with assaulting a woman during the arrest on 21 July in Whitehorse Road, Croydon.
Westminster Magistrates' Court heard the alleged assault caused bruising injuries to her arm.
Officers were helping ticket inspectors on a bus at the time, the court heard.
The woman was with her young son and was carrying a scooter on the bus.
It is alleged she was "taken hold of by police", and the incident was recorded by members of the public.
The woman was later de-arrested when it was confirmed she had paid the fare.
PC Lathwood, who is attached to the Metropolitan Police's Road Traffic Policing Command, entered a not guilty plea to the charge of assault by beating.
Deputy Senior District Judge Tan Ikram sent the case to be heard at City of London Magistrates' Court on 10 May.
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