25-05-2025
Police officer sacked and jailed after blowing vape smoke at a member of the public before throttling him
A policeman who blew vape smoke at a member of the public and strangled him until he passed out has been jailed.
PC Tyler McWalter, 30, choked Charlie Pottow while on a night out during an unprovoked attack in Dorset.
The off-duty officer lunged towards the victim and placed his arm around his neck before dragging him to the floor, Southampton Magistrates Court heard.
PC McWalter, from Kinver, Staffordshire, was sentenced to eight months in prison after pleading guilty to a charge of intentional strangulation.
The court heard he was pulled off Mr Pottow by door staff at Kika Beach bar in Weymouth, Dorset, following the event in September last year.
He was previously dismissed without notice from Dorset Police and placed on the police barred list after being found guilty of gross misconduct.
Mr Pottow suffered a haemorrhage in the left eye - a bloodshot eye - and a sore throat and neck.
He also claimed the attack gave him PTSD, and on his behalf prosecutor David Fosler told the court he had developed a 'debilitating fear of crowded spaces'.
Mr Pottow said in a statement: 'The fact that my attacker was an off-duty officer has shattered my trust in law enforcement.'
For the defence, Kevin Hill said PC McWalter was signed off work with anxiety and depression at the time of the attack.
He had been working for Dorset Police since March 2023, and was studying for a degree in policing, the court heard.
Sentencing PC McWalter, District Judge Anthony Callaway said: 'You are a 30 year old man of hitherto exemplary good character and at the material time a serving police officer.
'The 14th of September last year was the date, the Kika Beach bar in Weymouth was the place and 02.30 hours was the time and I note that you were present along with a colleague of yours at this particular venue.
'Also present that morning was a man by the name of Pottow - the complainant, a person unknown to you who became involved with security staff.'
Mr Pottow 'may have been asked to leave', the judge said, and CCTV showed to the court showed him having a minutes-long exchange with security staff who surrounded him.
Judge Callaway said 'Either way, it had nothing whatsoever to do with you'.
He continued: 'There's an issue as to whether you blew vape smoke in his face, something you deny, but it's clear from the video footage we have seen that you did exactly that.
'The physical altercation that predicates this case started, and you deliberately placed an arm around this man's neck.'
The judge added Mr Pottow suffered 'significant distress' - he 'briefly lost consciousness' and experienced a 'haemorrhage in his eye'.
He concluded: 'I have taken into account problems with your mental health, problems with your degree course and the fact that you were signed off work.'
Judge Callaway noted the former officer had 'already suffered some punishment' after losing his career in the police.
PC McWalter will have to also pay a victim surcharge.
