29-05-2025
Hero policeman who threatened to ‘smash' teenager's face guilty of misconduct
An award-winning police officer has been found guilty of gross misconduct after threatening to 'smash' a teenager in the face.
Pc Lorne Castle, who was Dorset Police's officer of the year, and Pc Susannah Justice, his colleague, were asked to intercept the 15-year-old boy after he was allegedly involved in two assaults in Bournemouth.
But during the arrest, Pc Castle allegedly told the youth, who was found to be in possession of a knife, to 'stop screaming like a b---h' and threatened to 'smash him' before putting his hands around the boy's neck.
Despite tearfully apologising for his 'out of character' actions at a police misconduct hearing, the 46-year-old was found guilty of gross misconduct in regards to authority, respect, courtesy and conduct.
The married father of two is now facing dismissal, with his fate set to be decided at a later date.
The case and verdict has prompted backlash, with some praising Pc Castle.
Norman Brennan, a retired police officer and founder of the campaign group Protect the Protectors, said: 'Officers have a very difficult job dealing with obstructive, violent and aggressive suspects and this sends the wrong message to them.
'No arrest is without some sort of force and often in a heated situation language will be used which is not the Queen's English.
'He may not have known it while starting the arrest but the boy was carrying a knife so that is what officers have to deal with.
'I'm sick and tired of officers being disciplined for things like this and I think the majority of the public would think if he were to lose his job over this, it would be absolutely bonkers.'
The incident which led to Pc Castle's disciplinary hearing happened in Bournemouth town centre at 5.30pm on Jan 27 last year.
The boy was suspected of assaulting an elderly man while riding an e-scooter before getting embroiled in a fracas with another youth outside McDonald's.
He was also alleged to have run away from town rangers who tried to apprehend him until police arrived.
Pc Castle, who has twice won a national bravery award including one for saving an elderly woman from drowning in a swollen river in 2023, spotted the suspect walking up Richmond Hill in Bournemouth.
Bodycam footage showed the officer run up to the suspect and push him against the wall before taking him to the ground and straddling him.
Pc was 'overwhelmed and scared'
He told the youth to 'show me your f------ hands' and then put his hands and finger in the teen's face.
When the boy was unable to move his arm, Pc Castle told him to 'stop screaming like a little b---h'.
Giving evidence, Pc Castle said he became 'overwhelmed and scared' when the boy resisted as his mind flashed back to his arrest of a county lines drug dealer 18 months earlier.
Pc Castle admitted he had overstepped the mark with his language and aggression.
He broke down in tears as he said: 'I'm embarrassed by the video and I apologise for my actions.
'Anyone who knows me in public or private life knows that is not how I behave... During this arrest, when he started resisting and screaming, I panicked again and overreacted.
'I did not choke the suspect and I did not get him in a headlock.
'I was trying to keep his head still with the palm of my hand so he did not hit his head... During the arrest, I saw the knife fall out of his waistband so he was arrested for a knife offence.
'I think the arrest needed to be made but I lost control of the situation.'
A 'pen- or Stanley type' knife fell out of the boy's waistband.
Last year, Pc Castle received a National Humane Society award for saving a person from drowning in the River Avon in Christchurch.
