Pc spared jail over torment of suspect

A police officer who was filmed threatening to torture a suspect suffering a broken leg after he had been run down by a police car escaped jail today.

Pc David Wyvill, 45, was fined £500 at the Old Bailey after admitting misconduct.

Wyvill humiliated 43-year old Colin May as he lay handcuffed and helpless in the street in Tranquil Rise, Erith, on 29 January 1999 - but the incident was recorded on a resident's security camera.

Pcs Paul Butler, 35, Stuart Grist, 27, Frank Harrington, 51, and Dennis Brant, 46, also faced a misconduct charge, but this was dropped when Wyvill pleaded guilty.

That court heard that Pc Grist had noticed Mr May allegedly damaging a fence. When he gave chase he was slashed at with a knife.

Pc Butler arrived on the scene in a car and chased Mr May, knocking him down and breaking his leg. The other officers arrived and Wyvill began the torment.

Paul Lewis QC, prosecuting, told the court: "Colin May was bullied, mocked, threatened and intimidated."

The jury were played the video made by the resident and handed a transcript of the soundtrack. At one point, Wyvill warned Mr May that "his next form of torture" would be to have his head run over by the police car.

The court was told that Wyvill's police career was probably over and his future would be decided at a disciplinary hearing next week.