Officer jailed after attacking parent's neighbour
An officer who attacked his parents’ neighbour with a metal kitchen roll holder following a dispute over noise has been jailed for two and a half years.
Sergeant Stephen Light had “drunk ten pints of beer” when he attacked Andrew Grant at his home in Workington, Cumbria.
In August, he was convicted at Carlisle Crown Court of malicious wounding and cleared of causing criminal damage.
Northumbria Police said Light, who had served with the force for 22 years, has been sacked.
The former officer, who was off-duty at the time, had entered Mr Grant’s home uninvited on April 11 and struck him with the kitchen roll holder, inflicting head injuries that required seven stitches.
Mr Grant had been involved in a long-running argument about noise with the officer’s father and mother-in-law.
Although Light claimed he acted in self-defence, he was recorded following his arrest saying: “Regardless of my occupation, I feel let down by the police, I feel let down by the council, I’m in fear for my family’s life. If I’m let out I’ll kill him.”
Superintendent Sav Patsalos, head of professional standards at Northumbria Police, said: “As soon as we became aware of the allegations against Stephen Light he was suspended.
“Following his conviction for assault, we progressed relevant disciplinary proceedings, which have resulted in his dismissal without notice from the force.
“I would like to reassure the communities we serve that this sort of behaviour is not reflective of the outstanding professionalism and commitment our officers and staff display daily.”
