Policeman to appeal against conviction for assaulting woman he arrested on bus

A Metropolitan Policeman found guilty of assaulting a woman during a row over bus fare evasion is to appeal against his conviction.

PC Perry Lathwood was fined £1,500 after being accused of wrongly arresting and manhandling Joycelyn Agyemang in front of her young son during an incident in Whitehorse Road, Croydon, south London, in July last year.

Lathwood, 50, had been supporting Transport for London ticket inspectors at the time and had challenged Mrs Agyemang, who despite having a valid ticket was accused of failing to produce it.

In court, he was accused of grabbing her by the arm resulting in bruising.

Assault by beating

Footage of the incident was shared widely on social media and the officer was investigated by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) before being charged with assault by beating.

Following a trial at Westminster Magistrates’ Court last month, Lathwood was found guilty and at a sentencing hearing on Friday was ordered to pay a £1,500 fine.

He was also ordered to pay £200 in compensation and a further £650 in costs, as well as a £600 victim surcharge.

In total, Lathwood must pay £2,950 within 56 days.

But Lathwood has confirmed to the court that he intends to appeal against the conviction, which police are concerned sets a worrying precedent and makes it virtually impossible for them to carry out their lawful duties.

Since the incident Scotland Yard has stopped providing support for Transport for London staff carrying out routine ticket inspections.

Sentencing him, Deputy Senior District Judge Tan Ikram said: “On this occasion in my judgment, the officer crossed the line and got it wrong. It was not through bad faith.

‘Difficult and challenging’

“He faced a passenger who I have previously described as difficult and challenging but in my judgment he made a momentary error of judgment, as it were, in the heat of the moment.”

In a victim impact statement, Mrs Agyemang described the incident as “deeply humiliating and embarrassing” and claimed the officer had a “look of contempt in his eyes”.

She also claimed her young son had been “devastated” by the incident and said both she and him had now lost confidence in the police service.

Rick Prior, the chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, said: “Police officers have no issue with scrutiny and accounting for their actions and use of force, but this has to take into account the reality of our role.

“Colleagues across London remain discouraged, dismayed and disheartened by this case.

“And worried that they too can be handed a criminal conviction for doing the roles the public and society expects of them.

“For doing their job.

“PC Lathwood has lodged an appeal against his conviction – and the Metropolitan Police Federation continues to fully support him throughout this process.”