Wiltshire police officer's conviction for assault is quashed

18/11/2010

Wiltshire police sergeant Mark Andrews has today (18 November) had his conviction quashed for assaulting a woman in custody, after a four-day appeal hearing at Oxford Crown Court.

Thames and Chiltern Crown Prosecution Service reviewing lawyer, Adrian Roberts, said:

'The CPS initially reviewed this case based on the CCTV evidence and witness statements and decided that there was sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction. It was also in the public interest to prosecute Wiltshire police officer, Sgt Mark Andrews, for assaulting a woman whilst she was in custody at Melksham Police Station. He was subsequently tried, convicted and sentenced.

'Sgt Andrews has appealed against this outcome and the court has made the decision that he did not have a hostile intent towards the woman that he was alleged to have assaulted and therefore he was acquitted of the offence. We must respect the outcome.'