The Latest Breaking News from Rachel Comotto

Police Cleared After Tasing and Pepper-Spraying 92-Year-Old Amputee — But Face Misconduct Action

The police officers who tased a 92-year-old amputee were cleared of assault charges, despite using a 50,000-volt taser and pepper pray on a very old man.

International Business Times UK · May 29, 2025

Sussex police officers cleared of assault against one-legged 92-year-old man

Stephen Smith and Rachel Comotto now face gross misconduct hearings for incident at Leonards-on-Sea care home

The Guardian - UK · May 28, 2025

Police officers who tasered and pepper-sprayed 92-year-old amputee cleared of assault

Footage of the incident shows the moment Mr Burgess was pepper-sprayed

The Independent UK · May 28, 2025

Tearful officer tells court ‘I’m not trigger happy’, after tasering amputee, 92

Police had been called to Park Beck care home in St Leonards-on-Sea after Donald Burgess had reportedly threatened staff with a serrated knife.

Evening Standard · May 23, 2025

Officer who used spray on amputee, 92, did not see he was disabled, court told

Pc Stephen Smith is accused of using excessive force on Donald Burgess during an incident at a care home in East Sussex in June 2022.

Evening Standard · May 22, 2025

Police ‘joked about using full can of pepper spray’ on disabled 92-year old care home resident

In a clip, one of officer said: “Oh my God, is there any left in your can?”

The Independent UK · May 21, 2025

Man, 92, vowed to murder care home staff before being tasered, trial hears

A care home boss said 92-year-old Donald Burgess looked ‘possessed’ before the alleged assault by police officers,

Evening Standard · May 20, 2025

Police pepper-sprayed and Tasered 93-year-old disabled man, court hears

Two officers responding to call from care home in East Sussex allegedly also hit Donald Burgess with baton

The Guardian - UK · May 19, 2025

Sussex police officers deny assaulting man, 93, with Taser and pepper spray

Two officers appear in court over incident involving one-legged care home resident Donald Burgess

The Guardian - UK · Apr 25, 2024