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| Pc convicted of assaulting child | Pc convicted of assaulting child |
| (19 minutes later) | |
| A police officer has been convicted of assaulting a 12-year-old boy at a Manchester police station. | A police officer has been convicted of assaulting a 12-year-old boy at a Manchester police station. |
| Pc Daniel Gaffney, 30, of Greater Manchester Police, admitted punching the boy, but said he was acting in self-defence. | Pc Daniel Gaffney, 30, of Greater Manchester Police, admitted punching the boy, but said he was acting in self-defence. |
| He had pleaded not guilty to assault, but Warrington magistrates rejected his defence claim. | He had pleaded not guilty to assault, but Warrington magistrates rejected his defence claim. |
| Gaffney attacked the boy in November last year at Didsbury police station after the boy was arrested. | Gaffney attacked the boy in November last year at Didsbury police station after the boy was arrested. |
| Gaffney, a response officer with Greater Manchester Police for nearly seven years, initially lied to his bosses, claiming the boy fell. | Gaffney, a response officer with Greater Manchester Police for nearly seven years, initially lied to his bosses, claiming the boy fell. |
| A day later he admitted punching him with a force equivalent to seven or eight out of 10, he said, bursting the boy's nose. | A day later he admitted punching him with a force equivalent to seven or eight out of 10, he said, bursting the boy's nose. |
| He is a highly trained police officer, yet he chose to resort to this type of violence against a 12-year-old boy Naseem MalikIPCC Commissioner | |
| He told deputy district judge Timothy Gascoyne that the child had intimidated him. | He told deputy district judge Timothy Gascoyne that the child had intimidated him. |
| The boy was arrested at a children's home in Wythenshawe after drinking vodka with a friend and threatening staff with a fence post. | The boy was arrested at a children's home in Wythenshawe after drinking vodka with a friend and threatening staff with a fence post. |
| At the police station the boy claimed to have a gun and Gaffney took him off to be strip-searched. | At the police station the boy claimed to have a gun and Gaffney took him off to be strip-searched. |
| But by the time a colleague arrived to help, Gaffney had assaulted the boy. | But by the time a colleague arrived to help, Gaffney had assaulted the boy. |
| 'Totally unacceptable' | |
| The deputy district judge told the officer: "My rejection of the self-defence argument is reinforced by the fact Pc Gaffney immediately, having been spoken to about the matter, lied - and there is no other word for it. | |
| "He lies to his federation representative, he lies to the inspector and he lies to the police surgeon called out to examine him." | "He lies to his federation representative, he lies to the inspector and he lies to the police surgeon called out to examine him." |
| Following the verdict IPCC Commissioner Naseem Malik said: "Pc Gaffney's actions were totally unacceptable. | |
| "He is a highly trained police officer, yet he chose to resort to this type of violence against a 12-year-old boy. | |
| "It is notable that Pc Gaffney's colleagues raised concerns about his actions and that should be commended." | |
| The case has been adjourned until 27 August 2008 for pre-sentence reports. |