Pc jailed for street attack

Waddoups was an officer with West Yorkshire Police

A police officer caught on CCTV cameras punching a man three times in the stomach with metal handcuffs clenched in his fist has been jailed for 21 months.

Pc Gary Waddoups, who was serving with West Yorkshire Police at the time of the incident, was found guilty last month at Bradford Crown Court of causing actual bodily harm to Stephen Ryan.

During the trial the jury was shown a CCTV recording of Waddoups punching 31-year-old Mr Ryan while on foot patrol in Leeds city centre on 15 December 2001.

Staff from the Merrion Hotel handed the tape into police.

An incident like this not only brings disgrace on you but on the police force as a whole

Judge Stephen Gullick

Waddoups, 43, of Knottingley, had told the court he was trying to make Mr Ryan take his hands out of his pockets as he feared he may have been carrying a concealed weapon.

The policeman has been trying to arrest Mr Ryan for being drunk and disorderly.

The officer, who had served with the force for more than 20 years, argued his actions were an accepted technique.

The Recorder of Bradford, Judge Stephen Gullick, told Waddoups: "Whatever the circumstances it's vital the public have the greatest public confidence in their police officers."

Wholly unlawful

"An incident like this not only brings disgrace on you but on the police force as a whole."

The Recorder told Waddoups he accepted policing city centres late at night when many people were worse for wear through alcohol was not an easy task but told him the "rough and ready" methods he employed that night had been wholly unlawful.

"You lost your cool and allowed your anger and frustration to get the better of you," the judge said.

Waddoups was cleared of a charge of common assault but found him guilty of perverting the course of justice as well as actual bodily harm.