A special constable who gave a drunken off-duty soldier a "good beating" while arresting him has been jailed for three years.
Peter Lightfoot 40, was convicted by a jury at Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court of charges of assaulting former Lance Corporal Mark Aspinall, then deliberately lying in court in a bid to cover up what he had done.
Sentencing him, judge Jeffrey Lewis told him: "It is always an unpleasant and unwelcome duty to have to pass sentence on a police officer, and this case is no exception."
He told him that he had carefully read professional reports prepared before sentencing, along with more than 30 character references from family, friends, former employers, and police officers - many still serving.
He said: "I take into account the fact that the consequences will be onerous not only for you, but to all members of your family, and that custody will be particularly onerous for you, but that is the only appropriate sentence."
Father of two Lightfoot, who resigned as a police Special following his convictions last month, showed no emotion as he was jailed.
The sentence was two years for assault, and twelve months for perjury, to run consecutively.
During the trial, the court had heard how he, along with two full time serving police officers, had been called to deal with Mr Aspinall, who had done two tours of Iraq and Afghanistan, after he had been ejected from the Australian Walkabout bar in Wigan town centre.
The jury was repeatedly shown CCTV film footage which clearly showed what happened outside the bar on King Street during the early hours of Sunday July 27 2008.
Ian Unsworth, prosecuting, said that in the incident which resembled scenes from TV drama Life on Mars, Lightfoot threw an unnecessary number of 'distraction' punches at the soldier's back, hitting him as hard as he could. He next deliberately rammed his head onto the ground as he lay helpless in the roadway, then rubbed his face into the tarmac.
Judge Lewis told him: "You accepted that anyone watching this footage might think you were giving him a good beating. It was as bad as that, so the jury found.
"You were described as a dedicated professional, and it is a matter of profound regret that you departed from your usual standards on that night.
"Whether as suggested, it was because a red mist descended, or whether you decided to inflict punishment because of his behaviour, your conduct was unacceptable and intolerable, and no right thinking member of the public could possible condone it."
The court was told that Lightfoot, whose father had been a Divisional Commandant with the Specials for many years, had been forced to resign in 1993 after he was bound-over for causing criminal damage. He was accepted back in uniform in 2001, but in 2007 was the subject of an internal investigation after he was reported by a senior officer for using excessive force on a member of the public during an arrest.
The matter was referred to the Crown Prosecution Service, but it was decided it would be against the public interest to bring a prosecution. Lightfoot was given formal advice about his situation, and put on an action plan to improve his understanding of the use of force.
Irshad Sheikh, defending, told the court that Lightfoot, who left school at 15 with no qualifications, had entered the haulage business, at one time owning his own firm. He had recently worked as a contract manager and driver for a haulage firm.
Mr Sheikh told the court that pressures of the investigation then prosecution, had led to his client turning from an outgoing and cheerful man, to an anxious, irritable and depressed individual, and had led to the break-up of his second marriage.
He said his client's real character was far from the image portrayed in court, and he had been described as a professional who was dedicated to his duty, and a man displaying qualities including reliability, diligence, enthusiasm, honesty and integrity.
He had been given a Chief Constable's commendation for his part in tackling armed robbers during an incident in Westhoughton, Bolton, when a gun was pointed at him, and he was also nominated for a bravery award. The two officers who went on trial alongside him, sat in the public gallery in the court to give their support.
'Abuse of trust'
Following the sentencing of former Special Constable Peter Lightfoot at Minshull Street Crown Court, Assistant Chief Constable Garry Shewan said: "The judge's sentence today is a reflection of how serious this abuse of trust was.
"The conduct of Peter Lightfoot that day fell well below the standard we expect at Greater Manchester Police.
"His actions in no way reflect the committed and professional attitude shown by the vast majority of our Special Constables, who are highly trained in the best ways to safely detain prisoners.
"We are even more disappointed that he knowingly lied before a criminal court.
"The judge said in court today that it was fortunate Mr Aspinall was not more seriously injured, such was the manner of Lightfoot's offence.
"Our Professional Standards Branch has carried out a thorough investigation, under the management of the IPCC, and this was recognised today by the judge.
"Lightfoot has now resigned from Greater Manchester Police, and the two officers who were found not guilty in this case remain on restricted duties, pending the outcome of an internal investigation."
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Well well well come on all you cop lovers what's your take on this one. An half decent sentence , should have been 6 years in my view but 3 will do, enjoy every second fatman on rule 43.You are nothing more than a fat overweight Bully, but I doubt you will be throwing your weight about in HMP.
Good. He should get more than a civilian, as he was in a position of authority and abused it to commit a criminal act on an innocent man.
Isn't CCTV Brilliant, even plod don't know when they are being watched.
Lightfoot, whose father had been a Divisional Commandant with the Specials for many years, had been forced to resign in 1993 after he was bound-over for causing criminal damage. He was accepted back in uniform in 2001, but in 2007 was the subject of an internal investigation after he was reported by a senior officer for using excessive force on a member of the public during an arrest.
My question is why was he accepted back as a special constablewhen he was forced to resign in 1993? Well done GMP for giving decent officers a bad name by letting this idiot join back up.
3 years is not enough
I hope this thug serves the FULL 3 years term and is then never allowed to work for the Police ever again!! I would have happily locked him away for 5 years!!
I am aware of Lightfoots reputation, as are many of the officers who have had the misfortune to work along side him.
I was surprised to find that the sentences are consecutive and that he was given 2 years for the assault. These seem harsh compared with those generally handed out for similar and even more serious offences
Proper Sentences (01/09/2010 at 13:12)
Do us a favour & dont bother ringing GMP again in the future, because I for one would rather quit then help the likes of you.
All you do gooding lefties who throw thier support behind drunken idiots rather than people trying their best day in day out in impossible circumstances make me ill.
Not one of you have ever been in situations where you fear for your well being or that of your work mates.
In my opinion that drunken fool got what he was looking for & if it wasnt for the cops would almost certainly have caused trouble for others looking to enjoy a good night out.
Do forgive the next cop who doesnt fancy getting stuck into the next fool who carnt handle his drink, they probably just want to stay out of jail or a&e.
The police are getting more and more agressive these days, Where are we living, South Africa.
What a nice first sentence from Grasshopper. ...see what I mean.
Lightfoot...Say hello to your police mates that are already in jail, soon there will be more police in there than police out on the beat!!
Special Constables in my experience never,ever overstep the mark....Compared to Community thingies, give me a Special Constable any day...Its about time they got more appreciated within Communities,as opposed to those blue ridden waste of spaces.
i cant be bothered retyping my post as i had to reigster to post and the men site kind of deleted it. I had a bit of a rant about a typical night out on a friday or saturday and affray and drunk and disorderley. Like i say too much to say to wirte again but look atthis story and tell me he deserved 2 years for assault http://www.dailystar.co.uk/posts/view/151764/Hot-fat-attack-on-girl-/ anyone who believes he does seriously lacks intelligence. just another flaw in the justice system in england and wales1
Big Fat Bully.
Excessive force, lying, recond of misconduct, deserves what he got but I do question those who say he should have got longer. I think what he got is fair, it's far better than some of the pitiful wrist slaps that are handed out these days. Still, he'll never be in a position to abuse powers of a Police officer again, so that's a good thing.
I have watched the CCTV a number of times, and seem to think somewhere along the line either the MEN has got something wrong or I am misunderstanding something, a lot seems to have been made of Lightfoot palm striking the ex squaddie in the shoulder, a technique taught to Police officers to loosen a tensed arm, enabling the detained person to be handcuffed, as this is an ACPO approved technique how can an officer be convicted of assault?
however that said I have also seen the footage of the detained persons head being scrapped across the tarmac, which clearly is an assault?
I have to wonder if like in the case involving Hanvy/Kennedy several months ago the judges summing up was what resulted in a conviction for this chap rather than the evidence itself, namely repeatedly mentioning previous convictions. From what I read I don't necessarily disagree with a conviction in this case, I do think the sentence is particularly harsh considering recent sentences for people attacking paramedics etc.
I think you mean lying big fat bully,i hope he gets wot he deserves inside,make him go into the general population and see how hard he is then,,,,,chicken!
Grasshopper you appear to have gone very quiet, are you now on duty I wonder in the as you put it life threatening streets of Manchester. I have just heard that for 12- 15/9/2010 GMP have had 95% of their officers apply for leave, I thought gosh normally its sick leave and then I realised Rangers are on their way. Mind you GMP will probably Police it with Specials and PCSO's now there a jolly good Police Force if ever there was one. If you cant stand the pressure dont join the cops Grasshopper boy.
Can't understand why he got more for the assault, when perjury is classed as a more serious offence.
Ignoramus, Manchester (01/09/2010 at 16:23)
Why Im so desperate to defend him?
It's not him personally, or his actions in this particular incident.
The problem for me is after years of dealing with the likes of the drunken individual in this story, and then spending the rest of the shift in a&e getting stiches or put in a cast.
I would prefer/have learnt to get stuck in from the start.
And thats before you spend days sat outside a courtroom waiting to get torn to shreads.
The biggest gripe is that whilst i dedicate all my time to these kind of incidents, there is precious little time left to help the 'decent' members of the community. The one's who know how to behave after a couple of drinks.... the one's who do pay my wages.
Ooooooooooooooooh, he's going to be popular on E wing, they love it when the police end up on the same side of the bars as them. I bet he doesn't feel very 'special' now. I bet the victim is laughing his head off and rightly so!
Lets get one thing straight for those who can't read!
He is not a cop! He is a volunteer who doesn't get paid who are called Special Constables!
There are three kinds of people I can't stand-
1. police officers who abuse their power, thus giving ALL police officers, most of whom are honest and conscientious, a bad name.
2. uncouth morons who drink too much, go out and cause trouble.
3. people who jump at the opportunity to write smarmy, unconstructive comments about the police on websites like this whenever they get the chance. No names mentioned Proper sentences.
oh, there's a 4th category. Police officers who appear to go out of their way to defend the indefensible, thus inviting ridicule en masse. No names mentioned there either Grasshopper.
what a discrace
looks like he's wrecked his life.....O well lying Bully's should never prosper
Hmm. My comments not posted?
This guy IS reminisent of a fat bully bouncer. He IS a coward.
And most of all - He IS going to a have a GREAT time inside when people find out who he is. ESPECIALLY when they find it was a guy from the army who was the victim.
Whilst what this guy has done is at best, extremely foolish, his incarceration will prevent absolutely no burglaries, no robberies, no credit card frauds, no car thefts, no grandma's diddled by bogus water board officials, now you find me someone who commits any of those offences who is given 3 years imprisonment.
A total waste of a public resource (prison cell) - why not just dismiss him from the force and order a heavy compensation payment?
Four lives ruined as far as I can see (him, his wife, two kids - who's thinking of those when they're triumphantly cheering at the gallows?)