A serving Met officer has been found guilty of assaulting a man after he attended a report of criminal damage.
PC Jonathan Marsh, attached to the East Area Command Unit, was convicted of assault at City of London Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 29 January.
He will be sentenced at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 29 February.
The court heard, on the evening of 13 November 2022, PC Marsh and colleagues were called to a report of criminal damage on Atlanta Boulevard in Romford.
On arrival, PC Marsh mistook the complainant for the suspect despite him telling the officers that he called police.
PC Marsh attempted to place him in handcuffs before taking him to ground and punching him on the head.
The victim was handcuffed and taken to a police van; during this time, it was alleged that PC Marsh continued to shout and swear at the victim.
The man was subsequently identified as the complainant, and was de-arrested at the scene.
The incident was referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct which carried out an independent investigation, leading to PC Marsh being charged.
Chief Superintendent Stuart Bell, in charge of policing in East Area, said: “All police officers know they will be held to account for any use of force, and any use of force must be reasonable.
“On this occasion, PC Marsh went beyond the level of force necessary and it is right that he has to face the criminal consequences of his actions.”
Now that criminal proceedings have concluded, the misconduct process will commence.
PC Marsh remains on restricted duties.
