West Yorkshire Police officer found guilty of assaulting man in Leeds
He repeatedly punched a moped rider after using force to detain him
A West Yorkshire Police officer has been found guilty of assaulting a man in Leeds.
PC David Watson-Walker has been handed a £440 fine for the on-duty assault in 2024, where he repeatedly punched a moped rider after using force to detain him.
The 43-year-old appeared before Sheffield Magistrates Court today (Friday July 10), following a one-day trial on April 24. He was found guilty of common assault.
The court heard that at 7.38pm on December 17, 2024, PC Watson-Walker and a colleague were dispatched to a report of a moped being driven dangerously around Leeds.
Following the report, the officers located the moped and used force to detain the rider, who was apprehended on the ground.
Analysis of available CCTV in the area and the colleague’s body worn video footage showed PC Watson-Walker deliver four knee strikes and three hand strikes to the moped rider’s head before handcuffs were applied.
After arriving at Elland Road custody suite, the moped rider was taken to hospital for injuries to his head, face and ankle.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) launched an investigation following a referral from West Yorkshire Police, and PC Watson-Walker was removed from frontline policing and put on restricted duties while it took place.
IOPC Director of Engagement Emily Barry said: “Any occasion where an officer uses force must be reasonable and proportionate in the circumstances. In this incident, PC Watson-Walker used excessive and unreasonable force when he repeatedly punched the man’s head, injuring him in the process.
“Though force can be used if needed, officers are trained to always use it with restraint. His actions, in assaulting a member of the public, have the potential to reflect negatively on police colleagues, as well as impacting on the professional relationships they have with the communities they serve.
“The officer now has a conviction against his name and this case should be a reminder to officers that any force they use should be necessary, reasonable and proportionate in the circumstances.”
The IOPC said that PC Watson-Walker should face a gross misconduct hearing for allegedly breaching the police standards of professional behaviour. West Yorkshire Police said the officer’s actions will now be assessed in line with the force’s misconduct process.
Detective Chief Superintendent Tanya Wilkins, Head of West Yorkshire Police’s Professional Standards Directorate, said: “There are situations where police officers may be required to use force and that is recognised in law.
“It is vital though that any use of force is done in line with training and is reasonable, necessary and proportionate – which was not the case in this incident.”