CCTV of moment Met Police officer ‘struck man over the head with a baton’

CCTV captured the moment a Met Police officer allegedly clobbered a Wetherspoon’s punter over the head with his baton in an ‘unjustified’ display of force.

Pc Jack Wood, 26, denies assaulting Jake Smith, 26, who was left with a gaping gash to his skull following the bust-up in Romford, Essex.

He and colleague Pc Archie Payne, 26, are also accused of assaulting Mr Smith’s friend, Scott Rooney, 26, who claims he was grabbed by the throat and thrown to the ground.

Mr Rooney, a railway engineer, alleges he was the victim of an unprovoked onslaught after trying to take a picture of Pc Wood and his officer number.

Scott Rooney being pinned to the ground by officers following a bust-up in Romford, Essex

Pc Jack Wood, 26

Pc Archie Payne, also based at Romford Police Station, denies one count of common assault against Mr Rooney

Pc Jack Wood, 26, (left) denies assaulting Jake Smith, 26, who was left with a gaping gash to his skull following the bust-up in Romford, Essex. He and colleague Pc Archie Payne, 26, (right) are also accused of assaulting Mr Smith’s friend, Scott Rooney, 26, who claims he was grabbed by the throat and thrown to the ground 

Hendon Magistrates Court heard that Mr Smith and Mr Rooney had called police on January 5 last year in the belief they were about to be jumped outside the World’s Inn pub by a gang of ‘rowdy’ men.  

Prosecutor Nicola Shannon said there had been an argument between Mr Rooney and another drinker, prompting two security guards to ask them to leave.

She said they stayed for one more drink but, upon leaving, realised the man they had clashed with was lurking outside with a number of others.

The group was between the pub and the bus stop that Mr Rooney, who lived locally, needed to get to. 

So the pair asked Pc Wood and Pc Payne, who were outside the pub on patrol, to escort them to the bus stop past the group, the court heard.

Ms Shannon went on: ‘The officers declined to do so, telling the group if he was their friend it’s not their responsibility to help, and returned to their patrol duties.

‘Mr Rooney was attacked by the group… but shortly after that Pc Wood ran into the scene, came behind Mr Smith raised his baton and inflicted between three to four strikes.’

The prosecutor said while Mr Smith had his back towards the officer ‘Pc Wood appears to go from right to left with the baton held above his head in an overarm motion brings it down towards Mr Smith.’

Pc Payne is seen on the footage making a ‘kicking motion’ at Mr Smith while he was on the ground.

Mr Smith suffered two wounds to his head, 1.5cm and 1cm in length, as well as 6cm of bruising to his chest wall, the court heard.

Pc Jack Wood, 26, denies assaulting Jake Smith, 26, who was left with a gaping gash to his skull (pictured)

While Pc Payne and a colleague had their body-worn cameras activated ‘Pc Wood did not activate his until later,’ said the prosecutor.

After Mr Smith was treated in an ambulance the officers returned to arrest him for affray, but the charge was later discontinued, the court heard.

The prosecutor said: ‘Mr Rooney asked the officers who had hit his friend. Pc Wood admitted that he had.

‘Mr Rooney, concerned as to the propriety of the officers’ actions, asked to take a photo of Pc Wood’s shoulder number.

Ms Shannon went on: ‘He went to do so having been permitted by the officers.

‘The shoulder number was not wholly visible he went to lift the lapel but that action was met with rebuke from Pc Payne who told him not to touch Pc Wood.

‘Mr Rooney moved back and said that’s a bit overkill, to which Pc Payne replied “I’ll tell you what, we’re going to deal with you”.

‘Pc Payne moves forwards and pushed Mr Rooney back towards a nearby wall, he’s joined by PcWood.

‘One or both of the officers has his hand around Mr Rooney’s neck and Pc Wood appears to punch him once to the head or face area.

‘Both take him forcibly to the ground. He’s on the ground with two officers on top of him.

Mr Rooney, a railway engineer, alleges he was the victim of an unprovoked onslaught after trying to take a picture of Pc Wood and his officer number

Mr Rooney, a railway engineer, alleges he was the victim of an unprovoked onslaught after trying to take a picture of Pc Wood and his officer number

Jack Smith, 26, was hit over the head with a baton outside a pub in Romford last year

Jack Smith, 26, was hit over the head with a baton outside a pub in Romford last year

‘The force used was unprovoked. There was no immediate threat to either officers and the subsequent violence was not justified.’

From his home in Essex, wearing a grey hoodie, Mr Rooney today described his version of events to the court.

He said: ‘I came face to face with the people who we were with in the pub. It was a bit blurry but I was suddenly on the floor. I don’t know if I fell or got hit.

‘I stumbled up and saw Jake’s head split open on the floor. I thought he was in the cab with the girls on the way home.

‘He was standing there holding his head and there was blood everywhere. I said who did that or how did that happen?

‘He said he did it and looked in the direction of the police officer. I said: ‘You can’t do that, that’s wrong.’

‘Then I walked up to the police officer and asked him if I could get a picture of his numbers because I didn’t think it was right that he had hit someone over the head with his baton.

‘He said his number but his collar was in front [of the numbers] so I moved it.’ 

In CCTV footage shown to the court the officers grab Mr Rooney’s throat, push him to the wall and lie on top of him.

Mr Rooney said: ‘After that the next thing I was on the floor with two officers holding me down.

‘They threw me towards the floor. They had their body weight on top of me pushing me against the pavement.

‘As I landed on the floor my right arm was underneath my body getting pressed to the ground and I was unable to move it. I wasn’t there causing trouble.

‘As you can see I’m quite calm, I’m not aggressive in any way and I just thought that was uncalled for.

‘My hands were behind my back I was posing no threat. I had a big bruise on the side of my head, a big red lump and a big bruise.’

He said the officers had no contact with the other men who are said to have initially ‘jumped him’.

Pc Wood, based at Romford Police Station, denies one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm against Mr Scott and one count of assault by beating against Mr Rooney.

Pc Payne, also based at Romford Police Station, denies one count of common assault against Mr Rooney.

The trial continues.