Former Derbyshire officer Shaun Elliott, 53, is on trial accused of striking an autistic man with cerebral palsy during an arrest at Buxton Police Station on 30 December 2022. Prosecutors say body-worn camera and van footage show the man bleeding from a wound above his left eye and repeatedly shouting "I want to go home." Officers gave first aid at the scene. The defendant denies any finding of guilt; the trial is ongoing at Derby Crown Court.
Former Derbyshire Officer On Trial Over Alleged Baton Strike That Left Autistic Man Bleeding
The court heard the man suffered a cut to his head after being hit with an extendable baton (stock photo) [Getty Images]
A former Derbyshire police officer, Shaun Elliott, 53, is on trial accused of striking a man who is autistic and has cerebral palsy with a baton during an arrest at Buxton Police Station on 30 December 2022, prosecutors told jurors at Derby Crown Court.
What the Prosecution Says
Prosecutor Philip Cowburn told the jury the incident occurred after the man had attended the station seeking help with a letter and officers subsequently moved to the foyer to arrest him. Body-worn camera and van footage played in court reportedly show the man screaming "I want to go home" as blood ran down his face.
Sequence Of Events Shown On Video
According to evidence presented on the first day of the trial, the man became upset and asked to phone his mother before officers began to handcuff him. Body-worn camera footage reportedly shows him fall to the floor and be held down by several officers. While being searched and while inside the rear of a police van, the man was filmed repeatedly hitting his head against surfaces and shouting that he could not stand and could not straighten one leg.
Video shown to jurors captured the man saying, "I want to go home," and, after the alleged strike, footage reportedly shows blood beginning to drip from a wound above his left eye.
Prosecutors said the footage shows Shaun Elliott rolling his eyes during the search, then taking hold of the man. The prosecution alleges that, after officers closed the van doors, Elliott extended his baton, raised it and struck the man once on the head. The video also reportedly records Elliott saying, "never bite an officer," and the man responding, "I didn't bite him."
Aftermath And Medical Care
The court heard officers applied first aid at the scene and placed a bandage on a wound above the man's left eye. The man was later seen retching and vomiting, according to the evidence presented.
Legal Status
Shaun Elliott faces a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. The trial is ongoing and the defence case has not yet been presented. No finding of guilt has been made.
Reporting note: Details in this account are taken from evidence presented in court and from video footage shown to the jury. Proceedings continue at Derby Crown Court.
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