Met Police officer, 28, who headbutted cocktail bar worker when he accused him of breaking Covid lockdown rules with colleagues is spared jail after ‘moment of madness’
- PC Luke Wilson, 28, was found guilty of assaulting Johnny White in London
- Yet the Metropolitan Police officer was spared jail for headbutting the worker
- He attacked Mr White after the bar worker challenged him over lockdown rules
- Wilson has remained working for the Met but will face a misconduct hearing
A Metropolitan Police officer who headbutted a member of staff at a cocktail bar after he was accused of breaching Covid restrictions has avoided jail.
PC Luke Wilson, 28, was previously found guilty of assaulting Johnny White while out for drinks with fellow officers at the Be At One bar in King William Street, near Monument, London, on July 2 last year.
Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard that Wilson, based in Lewisham but from Gravesend, Kent, was breaking Covid rules at the time as he and other members of the group moved between tables around the venue.
Met Police officer PC Luke Wilson, 28, pictured leaving Westminster Magistrates Court after he was found guilty of assault by beating
A judge heard Wilson said he and the others were police officers when asked by Mr White and when the victim challenged the group Wilson headbutted him.
The court was told the assault left the Mr White with ‘reddening’ of the skin.
Wilson still claims his innocence but was remorseful for breaching Covid rules, the court heard.
District Judge Briony Clarke on Tuesday passed a sentence of 10 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months.
She also ordered Wilson to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work and pay £200 in compensation to the victim, as well as £775 in court costs and a £128 victim surcharge.
Passing sentence, she said anyone who saw CCTV footage of the incident, played during the trial, would have been ‘shocked’.
CCTV footage showed PC Luke Wilson headbutt City bar manager Johnny White on July 2 last year after he and his group of officers were confronted over breaking Covid rules
Tom Bushnell, representing Wilson, told the court the assault was ‘out of character’ and a ‘moment of madness’, adding that it ‘pales’ in comparison with his ‘brilliant career’ as a police officer.
The Metropolitan Police said Wilson had remained on restricted duties since his conviction and misconduct proceedings would take place as soon as possible.
Chief Superintendent Trevor Lawry, in charge of policing for Lewisham, Bexley and Greenwich, said: ‘Whether on or off duty, police officers are expected to uphold the high standards we expect as an organisation.
‘However, PC Wilson’s behaviour fell far below this and it is right that following a police investigation he has had to face up to his actions in court.’
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