[N]ORTHUMBRIA Police says it will “progress the relevant disciplinary proceedings” after one of its officers was convicted of off-duty violence in Workington.
Stephen Light, a 44-year-old neighbourhood sergeant, was yesterday found guilty of wounding Andrew Grant – a neighbour of the officer’s father and step-mother – during the early hours of April 11.
Jurors heard Light, who was off-duty and had drunk 10 pints, entered Mr Grant’s Fountains Avenue home uninvited and unannounced, before striking him to the back of the head with a metal kitchen roll holder. Mr Grant – who had been involved in a noise nuisance dispute with his neighbours – needed seven stitches in an injury which, he said in court, “was down to my skull”.
At Carlisle Crown Court, Light was convicted, unanimously, of a wounding charge he had denied. He was cleared of an alleged criminal damage. Light, of Bede Close, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, was bailed and will be sentenced next month.
In the wake of his conviction, Superintendent Sav Patsalos, head of professional standards at Northumbria Police, said: “Northumbria Police expects the highest standards of its officers and staff both on and off-duty and we will not hesitate to take action against anyone who falls below these standards.
“As soon as we became aware of the allegations made against Stephen Light he was suspended from duty.
“Following his conviction for assault, we will progress the relevant disciplinary proceedings.
“I would like to reassure the communities we serve that this sort of behaviour is not reflective of the outstanding professionalism and commitment the majority of our officers and staff display day in day out.”
