Special Constable guilty of assaulting seven-year-old boy

A serving Greater Manchester special constable has been found guilty of assaulting his seven-year-old neighbour.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said that Andrew Parkinson, 55, assaulted the boy after water was sprayed on him in a street in Bolton on 7 May 2021.

Parkinson is a serving special constable with 30 years’ service. He is currently suspended.

The young neighbour had been playing with other children and they had been throwing water at each other.

A small amount of water accidentally landed on Mr Parkinson as he was returning home and he decided to confront the complainant. As he told the child off, the boy stumbled over a rock and fell into Mr Parkinson.

Mr Parkinson believed this to be a deliberate headbutt and he responded by taking hold of the child by placing his arm around his neck and torso before lifting him up and carrying to his mother and father’s house.

This was witnessed by a neighbour and a number of the local children and it was reported to the police. Mr Parkinson was eventually arrested and charged with assault by beating.

The young complainant, his father and a local neighbour all gave evidence at a trial at Liverpool Magistrates' Court on 15 June 2022.

The Defendant argued that he had acted in lawful self-defence. But the court found that he had not been acting lawfully and found the Defendant guilty. He will be sentenced on 1 August 2022.

Senior Crown Prosecutor Joshua Sanderson-Kirk said: “This was a sensitive case which could only proceed with the support of the concerned neighbour, the parents of the young complainant and of course the complainant himself.

"Mr Parkinson took umbrage at young children playing innocently in the street and targeted a child. That child was supported by the police and the CPS to come to court to tell his story and help bring Mr Parkinson to justice.”