Common assault conviction against officer quashed following appeal
An officer with the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) who was convicted of common assault after slapping a member of the public across the face has had his conviction overturned following an appeal.
Police Constable Anthony Walters, attached to the Central West Command Unit, was initially convicted at Hendon Magistrates’ Court in July after an incident which took place while he was on duty in Westminster on October 15, 2018.
When his colleague stopped to speak to a pedestrian riding a moped, PC Walters spoke to another member of public. It was during this conversation that he slapped the alleged victim across the face.
A complaint was made to the MPS and PC Walters was formally charged on March 20 this year.
He was fined £1,400 for the offence and placed on restricted duties.
At Southward Crown Court on Thursday (October 24), a judge accepted his appeal and the conviction was quashed.
The MPS said a misconduct review will take place in due course.
