£13,000 payout for innocent man who had his head slammed onto desk by PC

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A police force has had to pay out £13,000 in damages after a police officer slammed a suspect’s head onto a custody suite desk.

Mark Cheesman was given the payout after he was grabbed by PC Gregory Hawkswell at Birkenhead Police Station in 2010.

The incident happened as he protested his innocence when he was accused of running in between traffic.

Mr Cheesman, from Tranmere, Merseyside, needed stitches to his chin and the case was settled out of court.

PC Hawskwell was charged with assault but later found not guilty.

Mr Cheesman was arrested outside Beach Bar, Birkenhead, and taken to the local police station where he was checked in by a custody sergeant.

He said he had ‘done nothing f***ing wrong’ and was ordered to stop swearing.

Mr Cheesman’s lawyer, Lee Massingham, said: ‘Viewing the footage of the incident that took place in the custody suite was very distressing for both Mr Cheesman and his family.

‘It is absolutely paramount the public are made aware that they do not have to accept such treatment by police officers.’

A spokesman for the police service said: ‘Merseyside Police considered this civil action and it was examined by the force’s legal team.

‘The force can confirm that it sought appropriate advice and that a settlement amount was negotiated before trial.’

Source : Click Me

"PC Hawskwell was charged with assault but later found not guilty."

If the situation were reversed I suspect that the 'civilian' would have been found very guilty, and the PC receive a far higher payout.

However, the better idea is not to get involved with the police at all if you can help it.

Exactly, I think I read he had been arrested for running in and out of traffic - hardly an arrestable offence, so probably an excuse to arrest him for another public order / respect thing.

...I wouldnt have thought (not having had it happen to myself) that you get arrested and taken to the nick having done nuffink wrong...

If they arrest you for ANY reason, then they've got your fingerprints and DNA on file - assuming they didn't beforehand. Any old excuse will do.

What a sad state that we have come to, when the Police, our guardians of law an order, behave in such away, then when filmed acting in a violent manner towards people, are then allowed to continue in the positions of authority that they hold - shame on you Merseyside Police

Another terrible case of looking after your own. Don't know how any straight trial could find him not guilty with that evidence.

This is why Merseyside police have poor community relations. Not only for the actions of PC Hawkswell but also the fact that he got off with it.

Who put the prosecution evidence together for the CPS? Was it an independent force or was it Merseyside Police?

Has the case been referred to the IPCC?

I'm currently reading 'Prison Diaries' by Denis Macshane: the book is full of examples of the justice system protecting each other on a national scale.

Disgusting.

Settled before it went to trial. So I assume there was no trial.

According to this report, Police Officer felt he could be threatened ! Ha, the lad was handcuffed.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...itches-attack-led-13-000-pay-victim.html

If he was found not guilty there must have been a trial.

I was arrested moons ago for being drunk and stupid. However in the car while handcuffed the police officer took it upon himself to call me all the so and so's under the sun.

However I didn't fall into his trap to cause a reaction and then be in a foul mood at the station.

I don't trust them anymore period.

Why did I not complain because there was also another police officer in the car and he was laughing at the comments made by the other officer.

The job is to up hold the law not to ridicule and insult or plain bully anyone in there custody.

Strange how the taughts stopped upon arriving at the police station. I suddenly had a Mr in front of my name again and not fn dick head anymore.

This was 20yrs ago but still remember it like yesterday.

Shame 2 officers engrained this opinion on me of an institution that is there to serve us all.

Imo they were high on power and control.

Sour grapes maybe but there conduct was disgusting.

I got arrested for spitting at a police officer.

Only I didn't actually do it and they cut my head on purpose putting into the car, I have zero respect for police, I don't trust them and never will now.

You only have to see how they drive, and I have seen them at red lights using a phone.they can break the law because they can get away with it.

A group of us where walking back to Birkenhead Central to get a taxi home after a good night out,A Police riot van `Full, stopped in the road, the little fella sitting in the front passenger seat wound down his window and started to try and provoke us with little jibes and digs,We were doing nothing wrong,Best thing to do is just nod your head,However that was twenty years ago I doubt they get away with it these days.

The compensation case was settled out of court. The police officer (Term used loosely)was found not guilty of assault in a separate hearing. Would be interesting which one was heard first. If it was the police officers then why did they settle out of court for example.

They have to be careful now. Thee is CCTV everywhere. Also members of the public can - and do - video them on their smartphones.

I have often wondered whether the fall in crime is due to the difficulty of 'fitting up' perfectly innocent people these days.

A lot of the fun has gone out of policing I think.

I filmed the police not so long back and got my phone smashed up, bad idea.

I know all too well that you are all telling the truth, I've had a lot of run ins with the police and can tell you a few stories.

One thing I will say though is they are not all the same, most of them are good people, the others are on the wrong side of the fence.

I'm on to Police 'Liason' Officers Liase my arse- Intelligence Gatherers thats all they are. Even the ones with nice teeth.#dontbefooledbyniceteeth

We would like to hear about your run ins with the police, please do tell.