Poulton man claims policeman punched him during roof stand-off with teenagers

Apr 22 2009 by Carrie Catterall, Heswall News

A GRANDAD was allegedly punched in the side of the head and pushed to the floor by a policeman during a five-hour stand-off with teenagers.

Terence Warren was looking after his two grandchildren, aged 10 and 11, on Wednesday night at his home in Hillcroft Road, Poulton, when two teenagers began hurling slates off roofs onto the street.

He said: “I had moved my car so a fire engine could come down the road, and then all hell broke loose.”

Police swarmed the area and cordoned off the road as the youths continued to rip off roofs, smashing the tiles down onto cars from around 8pm to 1am.

Terence, who has an artificial knee, said: “It went quiet at about 11pm and I went out to move my car again, so it wouldn’t get damaged, but was told by a young officer to go back to my house.

“We were just talking normally and I was about to go back into my house when this big sergeant came up behind me and punched me in the side of the head, smashing my glasses, and flung me to the floor.

“He was a giant of a man.

“‘I was shaking like a leaf and was then taken to one side by some other officers.

“I was not allowed to go back to my house to look after my grandchildren.

“I was shaking that much I sat on the floor and all these people came around me to see if I was ok.

“It was ridiculous I wouldn’t have minded if I’d done something wrong.”

Eyewitness, Andrew Quinn, 21, a taxi driver was “shocked and appalled” by the incident.

He said: “I just saw an old man come out and be smashed over the back of the head so hard that he fell to the floor.

A police spokeswoman said: "Merseyside Police can confirm that the formal complaint has been received.”

A 15-year-old youth was charged with criminal damage recklessly endangering life, affray, assault and possession of offensive weapon and a 16-year-old was charged criminal damage recklessly endangering life and affray.