Loutish copper jailed

South London Press

Loutish copper jailed

Jan 24 2005
By Clare Casey

A POLICEMAN who swore and lashed out at passengers on a late night train and then rang 999 claiming to be the victim has been jailed.

PC John Nicholson, 27, was sentenced to 60 days for abusing two passengers and then lying to cover up his behaviour.

Presiding at Bow Street Magistrates' Court, deputy district judge Nicholas Evans said he had no choice but to jail him.

He said: "According to reports from your superior, you are a hard working, responsible officer.

"But your drunken loutish behaviour caused immense fear to members of the public.

"It happened late at night on a train where people are effectively a captive audience and they were subject to your thoroughly objectionable behaviour.

'Touching'

"You first of all turned on a female passenger and called her a 'f***ing slut' and then bent down so your face was almost touching another passenger on the train, and said 'you f***ing c**t'.

"When he objected to your language you then swung at him with your fist and tried to kick him."

Mr Evans told the court on Thursday that had PC Nicholson not phoned 999 and blamed the other passenger he would have escaped a custodial sentence.

The incident happened when Nicholson, who was based at Kennington police station, was travel- ling home from London to his Bromley home on February 8, 2004.

The off-duty officer, who had pleaded not guilty to using threatening and abusive behaviour, was arrested after getting off the train at Eden Park station.

Defending, Dean Luxton, said Nicholson regretted the "few moments of recklessness at the end of a drunken evening".

[ Previous | Next ]