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West Midlands PC sacked after Asda meat aisle attack | West Midlands PC sacked after Asda meat aisle attack |
(about 20 hours later) | |
A police officer has been sacked after being caught on CCTV attacking her mother's love rival in the reduced meat aisle of Asda. | A police officer has been sacked after being caught on CCTV attacking her mother's love rival in the reduced meat aisle of Asda. |
Off-duty West Midlands Police constable Beth Walker struck out with such force her victim was "knocked flying", a professional misconduct panel heard. | Off-duty West Midlands Police constable Beth Walker struck out with such force her victim was "knocked flying", a professional misconduct panel heard. |
Panel chairman Harry Ireland said Ms Walker had carried out a "gratuitous, violent act" on a member of the public. | Panel chairman Harry Ireland said Ms Walker had carried out a "gratuitous, violent act" on a member of the public. |
She was found guilty of gross misconduct and sacked immediately. | She was found guilty of gross misconduct and sacked immediately. |
The two-day hearing in Birmingham was told Ms Walker's mother had been in a relationship with the man who had gone on to wed Ms Walker's victim. | |
CCTV footage showed the now sacked PC approaching the couple while swinging an empty shopping basket at about 19:20 BST on 24 June 2014. | CCTV footage showed the now sacked PC approaching the couple while swinging an empty shopping basket at about 19:20 BST on 24 June 2014. |
The victim told the hearing: "I was in Asda looking into the chiller for meat and Beth had just come up... She barged me and then said 'that was a long time coming'." | The victim told the hearing: "I was in Asda looking into the chiller for meat and Beth had just come up... She barged me and then said 'that was a long time coming'." |
'Violent elbow strike' | 'Violent elbow strike' |
The footage showed Ms Walker sticking out her elbow and stepping into the victim. | The footage showed Ms Walker sticking out her elbow and stepping into the victim. |
The action sent the woman stumbling into a spin. Her shoe was sent flying off in one direction and a pack of meat she was holding in the other. | The action sent the woman stumbling into a spin. Her shoe was sent flying off in one direction and a pack of meat she was holding in the other. |
The officer claimed she only went to say hello, and put her elbow out in what she described as a "friendly" greeting. | The officer claimed she only went to say hello, and put her elbow out in what she described as a "friendly" greeting. |
Ms Walker said: "I would say it was perhaps ill-timed and somewhat clumsy but due to the confined space and my basket, it just comes over as awkward and a little clumsy." | Ms Walker said: "I would say it was perhaps ill-timed and somewhat clumsy but due to the confined space and my basket, it just comes over as awkward and a little clumsy." |
But presenting the case against 40-year-old, Matthew Holdcroft said the officer had employed a "direct, violent elbow strike" on her victim. | But presenting the case against 40-year-old, Matthew Holdcroft said the officer had employed a "direct, violent elbow strike" on her victim. |
Ms Walker, who had worked in the response and neighbourhood policing teams in Birmingham city centre, was dismissed with immediate effect. | Ms Walker, who had worked in the response and neighbourhood policing teams in Birmingham city centre, was dismissed with immediate effect. |
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