PCs who Tasered and pepper-sprayed care home resident, 92, barred from policing

• Two police officers have been sacked without notice for gross misconduct after using excessive force on a 92-year-old amputee.
• PCs Stephen Smith and Rachel Comotto responded to reports of a resident threatening staff at a care home in St Leonards, East Sussex, in June 2022.
• Within 90 seconds of arriving, Pc Smith deployed Pava pepper spray and a baton against wheelchair user Donald Burgess, while Pc Comotto discharged her Taser.
• Mr Burgess was isolated in a room and holding a cutlery knife at the time the force was used.
• Although cleared of criminal assault charges, both officers were dismissed following an Independent Office for Police Conduct investigation and added to the police barred list.

IN FULL

Two police officers sacked after tasering 92-year-old amputee in care home