Woman ‘violated and scared’ by arrest over bus ticket in Croydon, court heard | UK news

A woman felt “handcuffed” after an officer handcuffed and “manhandled” her when she was wrongly suspected of dodging her bus fare, a court heard.

The alleged attack took place in front of her young son in Croydon, in the south Londonon July 21 last year.

PC Perry Lathwood, 50, denies assaulting Jocelyn Agyemang and bruising her arm.

Prosecutor Paul Jarvis said a bus inspector asked Ms Agyemang to show she had paid when she got off at Whitehorse Road.

“She doesn’t hand it over (the travel book) and leaves,” he told the court.

He said PC Perry Lathwood put a hand on her but she moved away so he grabbed her arm and arrested her.

The incident, which happened as police backed up inspectors on the bus, was filmed by onlookers.

The video shown at London Magistrates’ Court showed Ms Agyemang saying: “Can you get off me please? can you get off my arm You don’t understand, I didn’t do anything wrong”.

The PC allegedly continued to hold her and asked her to touch her Oyster card. She was also handcuffed.

The court heard Ms Agyemang was withdrawn when another officer took the card and confirmed the fare had been paid.

“The officer who decided to make this arrest and decided to seize her and manhandle her acted illegally because he had no justification,” Mr Jarvis said.

“There was no legitimate justification for the use of force to arrest her at that time.

“Even though it was necessary to arrest her, the level of force was not reasonable.”

“The PC called the woman a mad cow”

Ms Agyemang told the court she felt “very violated”.

“I felt like they didn’t care,” she said. “I felt a bit degraded because I hadn’t done anything wrong.”

Defense attorney Kevin Baumber asked why he left.

Follow Sky News on WhatsApp

Keep up to date with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by watching Sky News

Click here

She said she was “just thinking about getting to my mum’s house” – where she was leaving her son while she went on a date.

Mr Baumber also questioned why she “resisted” when police pulled her over.

She replied, “Honestly, I can’t see myself holding on,” saying she was confused and focused on getting to the appointment.

“I just remember the strong grip,” she said.

“With the things I’ve experienced in my past, when someone holds me, especially when I feel like I’ve done nothing wrong, it’s very scary for me.”

PC Lathwood, of Norman’s Bay in East Sussex, also gave evidence.

He said he had “no idea” what he could have done other than arrest Ms Agyemang, who he said had “repeatedly” refused to show her card to inspectors.

Read more from Sky News:
Man gets 40 years for killing PC Beshenivsky
Just Stop Oil protesters in the 80s target the Magna Carta

The officer said she was an “unknown threat” and “not listening” – and denied arresting her so he could use force.

Asked why he shouted and called her a “mad cow”, he described it as a form of “tactical communication” and said he was worried she might step into the road and hurt herself.

The process continues.