Wiltshire Police officer assaulted and verbally abused teenager

The incident happened in Swindon on 17 April 2023

A police officer has been found guilty of common assault after he "struck" a teenager twice on the head.

PC Lee Prince assaulted the 17-year-old boy outside Liquor World in White Beam Court, Swindon, while on-duty as a firearms officer on 17 April last year.

The City of London Court was told on 8 March that the officer, who has since been suspended from his post with Wiltshire Police, also verbally abused the boy.

He will be sentenced on 16 April.

The court was told PC Prince arrived at the scene shortly after officers detained a teenager on suspicion of criminal damage.

Wiltshire Police said he was then "verbally abusive towards the 17-year-old and twice struck him to the head".

The force added that no weapon was used in the assault.

Assistant chief constable Mark Cooper said: "The public rightly expect the highest standards of behaviour from our officers - and where it is found that they have fallen short it is absolutely right that they are held to account.

"It is vital that as an organisation Wiltshire Police continue to rebuild the trust and confidence of the public and in doing so we must show that we will not hesitate to apply the law - without fear or favour."