Cop punched drink driver when he bit him

A police officer punched a suspected drink driver in the head while he was handcuffed and restrained on the ground, a court heard.

PC Christopher Wentworth, 40, allegedly assaulted Hassan Butt in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, on 20 March last year.

Micaila Williams, prosecuting, said: ‘At 17:25 on 20 March 2021 a red Peugeot car collided with a black Mini Cooper.

‘Hassan Butt got out of the Peugeot.’

Mr Butt appeared to be ‘very intoxicated’ and a 999 call was made, Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard.

Essex police officers PC Adam James was the first on the scene with PC Wentworth and Temporary Police Sergeant (TPS) Dean Young arriving shortly after.

PC James spoke to Mr Butt and handcuffed him.

‘PC James told Mr Butt that he was being detained as he was suspected to be driving the vehicle.’

According to the PC James the driver was intoxicated but giving ‘low level resistance’.

TPS Young approached and arrested Mr Butt on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol.

He found medication and bank notes which he handed to PC Wentworth.

At one point Mr Butt jerked his head towards TPS Young and the driver was then taken to the ground.

‘PC Wentworth, takes hold of his clothing, assisting in taking him to the floor,’ said the prosecutor.

‘PC James was on his legs, TPS Young on top of his body and the defendant PC Wentworth was at Mr Butt’s head with his right knee on Mr Butt’s side of his face.’

‘The defendant is seen to punch Mr Butt in the back of the head with his right hand.

‘It was a single punch the Crown say…with some force.

‘The Crown’s case is that this punch, quite simply, was an assault.

‘The defendant now indicates that the reason for the punch was that he held a reasonable belief that Mr Butt had bitten him on his left hand and that the strike was therefore necessary.’

PC James heard his colleague say that Mr Butt had bitten him and TPS Young ‘heard a cry of pain’, the court heard.

‘It is accepted by the Crown that the defendant did suffer an injury to his left hand,’ Ms Williams said.

‘Video footage showed there was no injury until after the strike by this defendant.

‘The defendant…continued to restrain him with his knee to his face in, the Crown say, a more forceful manner.’

Mr Butt was then put into a spit hood and told PC Wentworth he was ‘p*ssed off that he had punched him in the f**king head.’

PC Wentworth allegedly replied: ‘Yeah, because you bit me you f**king idiot.’

The prosecutor said PC Wentworth filled a ‘use of force’ form out after the incident.

The Essex officer ‘made no mention of the punch’ but his witness statement did.

Mr Butt was initially charged with offences of assault on an emergency worker, but the charge was discontinued.

‘The Crown accept that prior to the punch the restraint was to all intents and purposes necessary,’ Ms Williams said.

‘It is therefore after the punch that the Crown say the force was excessive in the circumstances.

PC Wentworth, of Shoeburyness, Essex, denies assault by beating.

The trial continues.