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Police officer punches teenager during night out
2:02pm Friday 19th October 2007
Comments (78)A POLICE officer who punched a teenager on a night out has been given a two-year conditional discharge.
Police officer Darren Riley, of Bury, pleaded guilty to assaulting 17-year-old Jordan Rhodes on April 6 after leaving Lava nightclub in Burnley while on a night out to celebrate a colleague's retirement .
CCTV footage of the 25-year-old striking the victim outside JJB sports in the town centre was shown to Burnley magistrates.
Riley, who has been with the police for three years, admitted to making a pre-emptive' strike against the victim saying he acted in self-defence after the teenager had barged into him.
In a statement read to the court by prosecutor Robert Akers, Riley, who works for Greater Manchester Police, said: "I personally believed this man was going to attack myself and my colleagues and if I walked away he would have attacked me from behind.
"And at this point I made a pre-emptive strike and struck him with my right hand."
Apologising in court, in front of his mother, father and girlfriend, Riley said the last six months had been the worst of his life and jeopardised a career, which had been his dream.
Earlier in the evening the victim had been restrained by doormen as he tried to get into a night club, Sarah Sutherland, defending told the hearing.
As a result of his behaviour that night the victim had sustained a bloody nose, a sore mouth and a chipped tooth, however, it was not possible to attribute any injury to Riley because of the earlier incident with the doorman, the court heard.
The victim admitted to police after the attack that he had been intoxicated after drinking alcopops, beer and liquors, the court was told.
Ms Sutherland said: "This was not an innocent aggrieved but an individual looking for a fight.
"He had already gone to a nightclub where he was refused entry and restrained in a headlock by the doorman and this was when he chipped his tooth.
"Darren Riley made a split second decision and he accepts that this was the wrong decision and for this he is very sorry.
"He accepts that he had been drinking and he then made the unfortunate decision to get some food."
Riley said: "I did not mean to hurt anyone that night. I have never done anything like this before and won't be doing anything like this again.
"I am sorry. I believe it was wrong to assault anyone and the past six months have been the worst six months of my life.
"My career with the police is now in jeopardy.
"Joining the police was my life-long ambition and when this happened it was like my life had been taken away from me by an aggressive individual."
Chair of the bench Ann Gleasure said: "This was an incident where you accept that you went too far and you made a mistake.
"But there was an element of provocation and because of this we have decided to impose a conditional discharge of two year."
The court also awarded £100 in costs and £100 in compensation.
A GMP spokeswoman said: "The officer remains suspended from duty and is subject to an initial disciplinary investigation."
Your Say Yourtheboltonnews
Katie Dee, highlands says...
2:14pm Fri 19 Oct 07
As a result of his behaviour that night the victim had sustained a bloody nose, a sore mouth and a chipped tooth, however, it was not possible to attribute any injury to Riley because of the earlier incident with the doorman, the court heard.
The victim admitted to police after the attack that he had been intoxicated after drinking alcopops, beer and liquors, the court was told.
Ms Sutherland said: "This was not an innocent aggrieved but an individual looking for a fight.
"He had already gone to a nightclub where he was refused entry and restrained in a headlock by the doorman and this was when he chipped his tooth.
HE ADMITS BEING INTOXICATED AND BASICALLY BEING A PAIN. UNFORTUNATELY THE POLICE CANT GIVE STUPID KIDS A CLIP AROUND THE EAR ANY MORE, AND AS A RESULT THE POOR POLICEMAN IS SUSPENDED FROM DUTY. GIVE THE POLICE A BREAK FOR GOODNESS SAKE. THE YOUNG LAD HAS GOT DRUNK, MADE A NUISANCE OF HIMSELF AND GOT PAID FOR IT. WHERE IS THE BLOODY JUSTICE IN THIS. I KNOW THE POLICEMAN SHOULDNT JUST LAND OUT, BUT HOW MANY TIMES DO YOU SEE THEM GETTING ATTACKED AND THEY HAVE TO "TAKE IT" BECAUSE ITS POLITICALLY CORRECT. HOPE THE POLICE BOARD SEE SENCE AND GIVE YOU A SECOND CHANCE.
Ali, says...
2:26pm Fri 19 Oct 07
Andy Jones, says...
2:30pm Fri 19 Oct 07
King Eric, ......... says...
2:30pm Fri 19 Oct 07
aah just wanted to say your name.
Brak, Bolton says...
2:30pm Fri 19 Oct 07
I hope the 'victim' will think twice about his excessive alcopop consumption in future and learn some respect!
keithyt, Bolton says...
2:31pm Fri 19 Oct 07
If these people are going to uphold the law, they have to demonstrate that they can do so themselves.
Would you take financial advice from a convicted fraudster? driving lessons from someone with no licence? take your children to a nursery that employs known paedophiles?
I doubt it!!
Ali, says...
2:33pm Fri 19 Oct 07
King Eric wrote:OOh I've gone all tingly!
Ali. aah just wanted to say your name.
BoltonBorn, Bolton says...
3:16pm Fri 19 Oct 07
chas, suffolk says...
3:18pm Fri 19 Oct 07
Hamish Macbethrich, Whitefield says...
3:31pm Fri 19 Oct 07
Where were the 17 year olds parents - and why was he not at home.
chas, suffolk says...
3:40pm Fri 19 Oct 07
He's probably been smoking for several years and looked 20 years older.
bwfc season ticket holder, gt lever says...
3:59pm Fri 19 Oct 07
£50 fine and
£43 compensation costs this copper gets off scott free
some body explain please
bwfc season ticket holder, gt lever says...
4:00pm Fri 19 Oct 07
£50 fine and
£43 compensation costs this copper gets off scott free
some body explain please
keithyt, Bolton says...
4:00pm Fri 19 Oct 07
bwfc season ticket holder, gt lever says...
4:01pm Fri 19 Oct 07
bwfc season ticket holder wrote:i forgot to put on he also recieved equivilent to 9 months probation
i'm absolutley disgusted my son is 14 yrs old and recently hit out at another 14 yr old and got taken to court where is was given a £50 fine and £43 compensation costs this copper gets off scott free some body explain please
boris, west sussex says...
4:04pm Fri 19 Oct 07
King Eric, ......... says...
4:07pm Fri 19 Oct 07
i'm absolutley disgusted my son is 14 yrs old and recently hit out at another 14 yr old and got taken to court where is was given a
£50 fine and
£43 compensation costs this copper gets off scott free
some body explain please
OK I will explain.
You are a bad parent.
chas, suffolk says...
4:08pm Fri 19 Oct 07
The court also awarded £100 in costs and £100 in compensationBWFC please read, unless the youth has to pay.
Andy Jones, says...
4:10pm Fri 19 Oct 07
BoltonBorn said: I notice that "The Victim" didn't take action against the bouncer who caused him so much injuryHow do you know this? In the story, he doesn't even take action against the policeman either. So what are you blathering about?
chas, suffolk says...
4:11pm Fri 19 Oct 07
I AGREE with you at last.
john, bolton says...
4:16pm Fri 19 Oct 07
keithyt wrote:Obviously you have don't seem to like the police for whatever reason. However to criticise them and their motives because they wear a uniform is pathetic.
"Joining the police was my life-long ambition and when this happened it was like my life had been taken away from me by an aggressive individual." Absolute b@ll@cks, the aggressor here was Riley. He has the back up to have someone read a cleverly worded statement on his behalf, notice he didn't even say it himself in court, which will get him off and enable him to go back to work and arrest people for doing the very thing he has got away with. However, these people will not get the same result as he did. He will continue to strut around in his uniform telling everyone I am better than you, my morals are better than yours and I can therefore dictate what you have to do. What hypocrisy, no wonder they have lost all respect when people like him are representing the law.
boris, west sussex says...
4:21pm Fri 19 Oct 07
OK I will explain.
You are a bad parent
Christ, I agree with you.
King Eric, The Second Coming says...
4:24pm Fri 19 Oct 07
Posted by: boris, west sussex on 4:21pm today
Erica writes
OK I will explain.
You are a bad parent
Christ , I agree with you.
Finally you realise who I am.
chas, suffolk says...
4:26pm Fri 19 Oct 07
If we keep on agreeing with him, he may want to communicate with us old tools again. Oh no.
boris, west sussex says...
4:30pm Fri 19 Oct 07
No not Christ, David Ike perhaps.
King Eric, ......... says...
4:45pm Fri 19 Oct 07
cow-head, westhoughton says...
4:46pm Fri 19 Oct 07
boris, west sussex says...
4:48pm Fri 19 Oct 07
Erica Ike, will return to true form soon.
RagReader, Horwich says...
4:51pm Fri 19 Oct 07
cow-head wrote:Ain't life grand!
Chas, Boris & Erica, the world is now a much better place because we all agree on something.
boris, west sussex says...
4:52pm Fri 19 Oct 07
Who's amp???
cow-head, westhoughton says...
4:55pm Fri 19 Oct 07
RagReader, Horwich says...
4:58pm Fri 19 Oct 07
boris wrote:Not me,I think it's a bug,Ive seen it on other postings.
Rugrat Who's amp???
boris, west sussex says...
5:00pm Fri 19 Oct 07
King Eric, ......... says...
5:02pm Fri 19 Oct 07
We could all strip down to our satin thongs and 'express' ourselves.
Cover ourselves in peawet and writhe on your sheepskin rug.
chas, suffolk says...
5:05pm Fri 19 Oct 07
boris, west sussex says...
5:06pm Fri 19 Oct 07
Hey Cowie, let's get wifey in there.
We could all strip down to our satin thongs and 'express' ourselves.
Cover ourselves in peawet and writhe on your sheepskin rug.
I was right all along.
chas, suffolk says...
5:07pm Fri 19 Oct 07
chas, suffolk says...
5:08pm Fri 19 Oct 07
Is Gazzer a copper?
chas, suffolk says...
5:12pm Fri 19 Oct 07
Katie Dee, highlands says...
5:19pm Fri 19 Oct 07
Andy Jones wrote:No where in this report does it state "off duty police officer", however I still stand by what I said earlier. He didnt take action against the bouncer - oh no - the publicity isnt as good is it!!!! If he was my son and I found out he got p---d then caused trouble I would have given him a right hander also. He should now be prosecuted for drinking under ageand Wasting police time. His parents should be ashamed as well. I bet it was them that encouraged him to prosecute due to it being a police officer. If you condone this behaviour, you need to get a life also.
Katie, you seem to think that the police officer was on duty at the time. He wasn't, he was just another intoxicated bloke who got into a fight. In the cold light of day it turns out that he happens to also be a police officer but that had no bearing on the incident that night. So all your anti-anti-police rhetoric is entirely irrelevant and shame on cow-head and Ali for agreeing with Katie's utter nonsense rant.
chas, suffolk says...
5:26pm Fri 19 Oct 07
King Eric, ......... says...
5:27pm Fri 19 Oct 07
Simply evil notion.
chas, suffolk says...
5:31pm Fri 19 Oct 07
It's a pity your parents didn't give a right hander.
Aslap
Ali, says...
5:34pm Fri 19 Oct 07
And what is peawet??
King Kong, Bolton says...
5:38pm Fri 19 Oct 07
How can he arrest anyone now he has a criminal record for violence...?
He has suffered enough, I won't slate him.
Lesson learnt, he has disgraced yourself and GMP.
That's a step back for the police in their efforts to get the public on their side.
boris, west sussex says...
5:38pm Fri 19 Oct 07
King Kong, Bolton says...
5:39pm Fri 19 Oct 07
chas, suffolk says...
5:51pm Fri 19 Oct 07
Five boys get two years each for murder. A good slap could have prevented that muder.
boris, west sussex says...
6:04pm Fri 19 Oct 07
Lets be straight here, that copper will lose his job if he has not already done so....
How can he arrest anyone now he has a criminal record for violence...?
He has suffered enough, I won't slate him.
Lesson learnt, he has disgraced yourself and GMP.
That's a step back for the police in their efforts to get the public on their side
What a load of crap you write, Mr PC Kong.
Katie Dee, highlands says...
6:04pm Fri 19 Oct 07
chas wrote:It was manslaugher actually. Lets get this into proportion Chas. These kids should have been given more than two years. A slap wouldnt help in this case. Support for the police to bring brats like this to justice is whats needed. Hence the prat that got drunk underage - caused problems in a night club - caused a man to possiblily lose his job. As I said Lets get things into prospective.
Katie Five boys get two years each for murder. A good slap could have prevented that muder.
Katie Dee, says...
6:12pm Fri 19 Oct 07
King Eric wrote:Theres a very big difference in a clip around the ear and a beating. As I said: A clip around the ear did no one any harm.
I would prosecute you for hitting your child. Simply evil notion.
chas, suffolk says...
6:13pm Fri 19 Oct 07
I meant BEFORE the manslaughter. I agree two years was not enough.
chas, suffolk says...
6:15pm Fri 19 Oct 07
keithyt, Bolton says...
9:55pm Fri 19 Oct 07
No where in this report does it state "off duty police officer",
Katie, do you want someone to explain this to you?
Or are you now going to actually read the article?
BoltonBornNBred, Bolton says...
10:41pm Fri 19 Oct 07
£100 to this yob is most likly a lot of cash, but look at the effect on the Police officers career, his life, his future, this is a case of the victim being the one who has landed the punch not the one who has thrown it.
Anyone recall our famous Deputy PM throwing a punch, in true working class spirit :-) He did not go to court.
BoltonBornNBred, Bolton says...
10:43pm Fri 19 Oct 07
derby0543, bury says...
1:05am Sat 20 Oct 07
chas wrote:Five chemical castrations will prevent future slimeballs being born and if all offenders had the same treatment we could improve society, whats muder by the way.
Katie Five boys get two years each for murder. A good slap could have prevented that muder.
chas, suffolk says...
9:28am Sat 20 Oct 07
Shouldn't there be a question mark after your question????
parishner, bolton says...
9:31am Sat 20 Oct 07
Katie Dee wrote:doormen are bullys,thats why they work in this monotinous,trade and this copper sounds like a right drivel,self appointed sheriff,him and the rest need to get out and bring scroats,out there who are robbing old people and dust them,like the old days give it em
Earlier in the evening the victim had been restrained by doormen as he tried to get into a night club, Sarah Sutherland, defending told the hearing. As a result of his behaviour that night the victim had sustained a bloody nose, a sore mouth and a chipped tooth, however, it was not possible to attribute any injury to Riley because of the earlier incident with the doorman, the court heard. The victim admitted to police after the attack that he had been intoxicated after drinking alcopops, beer and liquors, the court was told. Ms Sutherland said: "This was not an innocent aggrieved but an individual looking for a fight. "He had already gone to a nightclub where he was refused entry and restrained in a headlock by the doorman and this was when he chipped his tooth. HE ADMITS BEING INTOXICATED AND BASICALLY BEING A PAIN. UNFORTUNATELY THE POLICE CANT GIVE STUPID KIDS A CLIP AROUND THE EAR ANY MORE, AND AS A RESULT THE POOR POLICEMAN IS SUSPENDED FROM DUTY. GIVE THE POLICE A BREAK FOR GOODNESS SAKE. THE YOUNG LAD HAS GOT DRUNK, MADE A NUISANCE OF HIMSELF AND GOT PAID FOR IT. WHERE IS THE BLOODY JUSTICE IN THIS. I KNOW THE POLICEMAN SHOULDNT JUST LAND OUT, BUT HOW MANY TIMES DO YOU SEE THEM GETTING ATTACKED AND THEY HAVE TO "TAKE IT" BECAUSE ITS POLITICALLY CORRECT. HOPE THE POLICE BOARD SEE SENCE AND GIVE YOU A SECOND CHANCE.
interested resident, says...
9:59am Sat 20 Oct 07
If he made a bad decision when drunk, what is to stop him making a bad decision when under stress on duty.
I've nothing against him getting drunk - he's only human, but if he can't control himself then perhaps he should get drunk in private.
Can anyone say that there are no abusers, partner bashing, dishonest police out there?
My point is that if they are seen to be vulnerable as other people, then any remaining respect will go.
Obviously I'm not condoning abuse, partner bashing etc - before the deluge starts!
chas, suffolk says...
10:56am Sat 20 Oct 07
interested resident, says...
12:45pm Sat 20 Oct 07
chas wrote:True, but was he going to be stone cold sober after leaving the police retirement Do?
The article does not say the copper was drunk. What worries me is that his job may be compromised with a two year conditional discharge hanging over him.
Also it mentions 'colleagues'. What were they doing? For heaven's sake it was a police was a police retirement do - the place must have been crawling with them!
Surely this 17 year old was not too big a challenge for these off duty policemen - and could have been handled differently?
boris, west sussex says...
1:45pm Sat 20 Oct 07
Surely this 17 year old was not too big a challenge for these off duty policemen - and could have been handled differently?
The thug got what he deserved, this is where discipline has broken down in this country, thugs insulting teachers, old people etc. The thug specimen is a waste of space, and should be dealt with accordingly.
interested resident, says...
5:10pm Sat 20 Oct 07
boris wrote:Who is interesting Davis????
Interesting Davis writesSurely this 17 year old was not too big a challenge for these off duty policemen - and could have been handled differently?The thug got what he deserved, this is where discipline has broken down in this country, thugs insulting teachers, old people etc. The thug specimen is a waste of space, and should be dealt with accordingly.
What you are suggestimg is mob rule, anarchy and might is right justice.
The sytem/society that we live in is by no means perfect, but I would rather have that than vigilantes roaming the streets.
chas, suffolk says...
6:11pm Sat 20 Oct 07
boris, west sussex says...
7:52pm Sat 20 Oct 07
First the copper was drunk and now he's a vigilante. Is that a fact?
I think Steve Interesting Davis, has got it all wrong.
Womble, Bolton says...
9:42am Sun 21 Oct 07
interested resident, says...
10:19am Sun 21 Oct 07
I was not saying he was a vigilante.
Who is this Steve interesting Davies anyway??
chas, suffolk says...
11:05am Sun 21 Oct 07
Why do you keep exaggerating? You are now saying that the situation escalated. The drunk barged into him and the copper hit him. That was it.
boris, west sussex says...
12:39pm Sun 21 Oct 07
The nugget is talking crap.
boris, west sussex says...
1:51pm Sun 21 Oct 07
Another member to the silly list
Erica
Rugrat
Tax Spells
Muckout
Pratenders
The Nugget (Interesting Davis)
chas, suffolk says...
1:52pm Sun 21 Oct 07
I found Steve davis much more interesting.
boris, west sussex says...
1:56pm Sun 21 Oct 07
keithyt, Bolton says...
2:12pm Fri 19 Oct 07
Absolute b@ll@cks, the aggressor here was Riley.
He has the back up to have someone read a cleverly worded statement on his behalf, notice he didn't even say it himself in court, which will get him off and enable him to go back to work and arrest people for doing the very thing he has got away with.
However, these people will not get the same result as he did.
He will continue to strut around in his uniform telling everyone I am better than you, my morals are better than yours and I can therefore dictate what you have to do.
What hypocrisy, no wonder they have lost all respect when people like him are representing the law.