A police officer kicked and punched door staff after his behaviour got him thrown out of a Cheltenham nightclub. Thiry-eight-year-old Mark Bale, an officer with Gloucestershire Constabulary, must now pay £1,500 after being found guilty of two counts of assault and one count of using threatening words or behaviour.
Bale, from Gloucester and part of the Reactive Investigations Team, will now face disciplinary action and risks losing his job as a result of his conviction.
Worcester Magistrates’ Court last week heard how Bale, who was a serving officer at the time, had been off duty and was on a night out in Cheltenham on December 15, 2023. He was part of a group of people who had headed to Revolutions on Clarence Street.
During the evening, Bale was challenged over his behaviour by a member of staff who made the decision to remove him and another member of the party from the club. However, once outside, Bale 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 a trial. He has since resigned from Gloucestershire Constabulary.
Bale, who appeared at Worcester Magistrates’ Court on Friday, March 7, was ordered to pay a total of £1,500. This included a fine of £500 and £100 to each victim in compensation. He was acquitted of a third assault.
Bale has been suspended. A disciplinary process has now begun.
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.”
Source – Gloucestershire Live
