High Court date set in Mark Andrews appeal case (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

High Court date set in Mark Andrews appeal case

2:22pm Monday 20th August 2012 in News By Chris Melvin

A police sergeant who was sacked following an incident at Melksham Police Station in which a woman prisoner was injured will find out if he can return to his job in October.

Sgt Mark Andrews was jailed in September 2010 for assaulting Pamela Somerville, 60, at Melksham Police Station, and was sacked by the force.
CCTV footage showed him dragging her across the floor of the custody unit before shoving her into a cell.

His conviction was later quashed after serving just six days in prison, but Wiltshire Police refused to allow him back to work, saying his behaviour was "well below the standards expected".

However in December 2011 the Independent Police Appeals Tribunal ordered the force to reinstate Sgt Andrews to his £36,000-a-year job and award him back pay.

Wiltshire Police appealed to the High Court to overturn the decision, and a hearing date has been set for October 19. Sgt Andrews has not been at work or been paid during the appeal.

Ms Somerville, from Colerne, was arrested for failing to provide a sample for a breath test after being found asleep in her car.

She denied any wrongdoing and the charges against her were dropped due to insufficient evidence.