Sarah Hemingway has successfully acted for a man who suffered extensive injuries when he was wrongfully arrested, beaten with police batons and sprayed with CS spray by police officers. The incident took place in his mother's home in 2009. He received damages after a jury found in his favour in Liverpool on 20 July.
Joseph Stanford v Chief Constable of Merseyside Police (2012)
Sarah represented Joseph Stanford in successfully claiming damages for false imprisonment and assault against Merseyside Police. In a five-day trial before HHJ Trigger in the Liverpool County Court, the jury found that Mr Stanford had not caused the arresting officer to believe that he was about to be assaulted. The officer had wrongfully arrested Mr Stanford for breach of the peace. Following the arrest, a number of police officers used significant force against Mr Stanford including numerous strikes and jabs with police batons and CS spray before he was handcuffed and detained at a Merseyside police station. No criminal charges were brought against Mr Stanford as a result of his arrest and detention.
Settlement between the parties was negotiated following the trial.
Sarah Hemingway is a member of the Garden Court Claims Against the Police Team.
