Police officer cleared of assault

A police inspector has said he wants to get back to helping the public after he was cleared of assaulting a man outside a pub in Sheffield.

A jury at Sheffield Crown Court took less than an hour to find Inspector Trevor Bichard not guilty of assault occasioning actual bodily harm on Paul Casey on 19 May 2002.

During the four-day trial, the court heard how Inspector Bichard used his police baton repeatedly on the 26-year-old while trying to stop a fight outside the Noose and Gibbet pub in Attercliffe.

He admitted causing the injuries but said he had struck Mr Casey in self defence as he was trying to stop serious violence taking place in a "dangerous and volatile" situation.

'Job to be done'

Speaking after the jury returned its verdict, Mr Bichard, 48, said: "I did my duty that night and now look forward to doing my duty on behalf of the people of Sheffield for many years to come.

"There was a job to be done and I never really thought twice about doing that job, it just seemed natural."

Asked what he wanted to do now the case was over, the officer replied: "I just want to be on the streets, to walk through the streets of Sheffield with a uniform on again."

Sheffield city centre commander, Chief Superintendent Graham Cassidy, said he looked forward to Mr Bichard returning to front line duty.

He said the inspector had been taken off the streets until this case was over.