A FORMER Essex Police officer who assaulted a handcuffed man on the A127 would have been dismissed had he not already resigned, a misconduct hearing has found.

Former PC Charlie Thompson was convicted of assault after a court hearing in November 2022.

The trial heard that the incident occurred when he went to help colleagues after they stopped a Volkswagen Golf driver on suspicion of using a mobile phone behind the wheel on January 19, 2022.

A scuffle ensued between the driver, Zeki Badruddin, and officers, with police using incapacitant spray.

When Thompson arrived, Mr Badruddin was handcuffed and seated on the verge beside the A127 in Basildon.

Prosecutor Micaila Williams said Thompson “went in like a bull in a China shop without asking questions or considering anything before he applied force”.

Thomson was handed a 12-week prison sentence, suspended for a year, as well as ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid work.

He was also ordered to pay £600 towards the prosecution costs, £150 in victim compensation, and a £128 surcharge.

PC Thompson was removed from normal duties immediately following the referral and resigned following the court case.

On Thursday, a misconduct hearing was held chaired by chief constable, Ben-Julian Harrington.

It concluded former PC Thompson had breached standards relating to discreditable conduct, use of force, courtesy and respect and orders and instructions and would have been dismissed had he not already resigned. 

He will also be added to the College of Policing’s barred list. 

Ben-Julian Harrington, chief constable, said: “Officers are well trained to use force proportionately and where necessary to deal with incidents and make arrests.

“They sometimes deal with violent and dangerous people and must use force to protect the public. I know that the people of Essex support us and trust us to do this.

“However, that force must always be proportionate to the threat being posed and, in this case, former PC Thompson’s actions went well beyond this. As a result, he was found guilty of assault.

“There is no place in policing for him or people like him who undermine the trust of the public and the hard work of colleagues who do so much to keep the people of Essex safe.”