A local police officer was today (Wednesday, June 21) convicted of assault after pepper-spraying a suspect as he clung to the drainpipe of a 15-storey building in Elephant and Castle last year.
PC Luke Wenham, 31, who is attached to the Central South Basic Command Unit, which covers Southwark and Lambeth boroughs, was trying to apprehend the suspect last August at Albert Barnes House, in Meadow Road.
The man was seeking to avoid being arrested by police who were looking for him in connection with a series of robberies.
Westminster Magistrates Court heard how PC Wenham twice discharged his pepper spray while the suspect was clinging onto a drainpipe several stories up.
After a stand-off that lasted several hours, the man is said to have climbed down of his own accord. The police said he was arrested and later convicted of 11 counts of robbery and two counts of racially aggravated public order.
At the time police said that to evade officers the male climbed out of a window, onto a sixth floor balcony, and refused to get down for over six hours.
Elephant and Castle tower climber arrested after six hour stand-off
PC Wenham was today found guilty following a one-day trial of two counts of common assault and is due to be sentenced on Wednesday, July 26. He also faces a misconduct hearing.
His conviction follows an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).
Borough Commander of Southwark and Lambeth, Detective Chief Superintendent Seb Adjei-Addoh, said after the hearing: “Officers know that their actions will be held to account and where any use of force is deployed, must always consider whether it was necessary and proportionate to the circumstances.
“It is clear in this case that not only was PC Wenham’s response completely disproportionate to the situation he faced but also, by doing what he did, he put a member of public at risk of harm.
“PC Wenham has let down not only himself but many hardworking police colleagues who strive to improve trust and confidence with our communities.
“I am pleased that this matter was put before a jury to make a decision following a careful consideration of all the facts.”
On Wednesday, August 17 last year, PC Wenham was one of a team of officers who attended an address in Albert Barnes House.
Police said they forced entry into the man’s flat, but he climbed out of a window and began to scale down a drainpipe which ran the length of the block of flats. As he did so, PC Wenham leant out of an open window and discharged PAVA spray at the man – who continued to climb down the pipe.
Together with other officers, PC Wenham attempted to locate the man, finding him on the balcony of another flat. When officers found him, the man continued his attempts to escape, climbing down the outside of the building as before. Again, the court heard, PC Wenham deployed PAVA on him.
Met policy dictates that any time an officer uses PAVA spray the circumstances will be subject to review. In this case, following a review of PC Wenham’s actions the matter was referred to the IOPC who carried out an independent investigation.
On February 9 this year PC Wenham was charged with two counts of common assault. The Met said he has been on restricted duties since the investigation started and now that criminal matters have concluded misconduct proceedings will commence.
