Officer assaults two people at Christmas night out

A Gloucestershire police officer has been found guilty of assault during a Christmas night out.

Mark Bale, 38, from Gloucester, was found guilty of two counts of common assault and one count of using threatening words or behaviour after a trial at Worcester Magistrates' Court. He was acquitted of a third assault.

The court heard that Bale, who was a serving officer at the time, had been off duty and was on a night out in Cheltenham on 15 December 2023.

During the evening, Bale was removed him from a club. He became aggressive and assaulted two members of the door staff, kicking one and punching another.

A second police officer, who had been charged with common assault at the same time, was found not guilty during the trial.

He has since resigned from the constabulary.

Bale, who appeared at Worcester Magistrates' Court on 7 March, was ordered to pay a total of £1,500.

This includes a fine of £500 and £100 to each victim in compensation.

Bale, who is part of the Reactive Investigations Team, has been suspended.

A disciplinary process has now begun against both officers.

Deputy Chief Constable Katy Barrow-Grint said: "I am appalled at the behaviour of this officer, which falls far short of the standards that both we and the public rightly expect from our officers.

"We will not tolerate any officers who believe they can act in this manner, particularly against the very people they should be supporting in their role to keep the public safe from harm."

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