Horror moment powerlifting champ cop pins woman to wall as she screams
A powerlifting champion cop has been branded a "bully" after he grabbed a domestic abuse survivor and pinned her to a wall inside her cell.
Sergeant Simon Lythgoe, who once broke a bench-pressing world record by pushing 231kg, launched a horrifying attack in front of three officers.
The woman, referred to as Ms A, could be heard screaming in pain as she begged him to stop hurting her during the incident in February last year.
In shocking footage, the Hampshire Police sergeant was seen using excessive force with the detainee, who had been living with depression following the death of her daughter, which took place a year before her arrest.
She shouted: "Don't f****** use force against me. Don't f****** use force. Oww, oww, oww." During his misconduct hearing, it was revealed that he had access to her files which stressed that she was vulnerable.
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Simon Lythgoe is a powerlifting champion and police sergeant (IOW County Press/Solent News)In the video, he told her he does not tolerate violence against his colleagues, which she denied doing. In response, she said: "I am not trying to be violent. I have not tried to be violent towards you." The officer has worked with Hampshire Constabulary for "25 or so" years. He secured his world powerlifting title back in 2018. It has been reported that he had previously attacked a male detainee the month before. Lythgoe, who was based on the Isle of Wight in Hampshire, was said to be sitting behind a desk when "Mr B" asked for help.
The detainee said: "My trousers are falling down. Can you loosen my left handcuff, please? I have been asking for five hours, you're taking the piss." A video from Newport custody suite captured the officer getting up from his chair and lifting the man up "by the scruff of his neck" because of the way he looked at another officer. He said to Mr B: "I don't like it. You don't look aggressively at my colleague." The sergeant proceeded to tell the man to "shut up and stand up" and added: "Do you understand that I am in charge? If you don't hear what I say there will be consequences."
The detainee asked him for help with his trousers (Solent News & Photo Agency)
He grabbed Mr B and pinned him to the wall (Solent News & Photo Agency)Matthew Holdcroft, prosecuting, compared the language Lythgoe's used as a form of "control and oppression". He added that he did not behave like a "compassionate custody sergeant." He continued: "It is a simple language of a bully and a bully who is responsible for the welfare of the detained person. A bully who has total control of the environment in which they are operating."
During the hearing which took in Eastleigh, Hants, the officer admitted to using excessive force with Ms A. However, he said his actions were necessary to ensure his colleagues were safe when removing her from the cell and said it was a "difficult situation". Lythgoe was let go from Hampshire Constabulary after being found guilty of two counts of using force with detainees that was avoidable, unreasonable and disproportionate in the situations. Deputy Chief Constable of Hampshire Police, Sam de Reya, said his behaviour was "completely unjustified." She continued: "On behalf of the force, I would like to apologise to the victims in this case and thank the colleague who stepped forward to challenge and report behaviour."
*For confidential support, call the 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Freephone Helpline on 0808 2000 247 or visit womensaid.co.uk If you or your family have lost a friend or family member through fatal domestic abuse, AAFDA (Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse) can offer specialist and expert support and advocacy. For more info visit www.aafda.org.uk.
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