Reveller to sue Met after being punched by riot officer
originally published:
10th August 2009
The police riot squad linked to the death of Ian Tomlinson during the G20 protests was hit by fresh controversy today after pictures emerged showing an officer apparently battering a party-goer.
Chris Leonard, 26, can be seen with blood running from his mouth after he was allegedly punched repeatedly in the face during scuffles at Liverpool Street station. Scotland Yard’s Directorate of Professional Standards is now set to investigate the conduct of PC James Hendrick of the Territorial Support Group.
The photographs appear to show the officer lunging at Mr Leonard’s nose and grabbing his throat. Mr Leonard, a land surveyor from London, claims he had done nothing wrong when PC Hendrick suddenly punched him up to four times and then knelt on his back before he was arrested and held in a cell for 14 hours. He is now preparing an official complaint.
Mr Leonard said: “I only noticed him seconds before he hit me. I just had time to realise, Oh god, he’s coming for me.’ I backed away as far as I could, but I couldn’t get away from him. “I remember saying, What the hell are you doing?’ as I saw him draw his fist back. He hit me three or four times in the mouth and nose in quick succession.
“I was left disorientated but could hear people around me shouting and screaming at him. “The next thing I knew he had dragged me out of the crowd. He threw me to the ground and as he came down on top of me he put his knees in my ribs. He must have weighed about 19st and it was agony.”
Mr Leonard was one of 1,500 revellers packed into the station concourse for the Last Orders On The Tube party on 31 May last year, the eve of the public transport alcohol ban.
