Police officer cleared of assault after firing Taser in face of her force’s race relations adviser
PC Claire Boddie, 47, approached Judah Adunbi, 63, with another officer as he walked his dog
A POLICE officer was yesterday cleared of assault after firing a Taser in the face of a race relations adviser from her own force.
PC Claire Boddie, 47, approached Judah Adunbi, 63, with another officer as he walked his dog.
He was mistaken for a wanted man by Boddie and PC Darren Weston.
He then refused to give his name, accused the officers of racism and a scuffle broke out.
Video footage from the cops’ body-worn cameras was shown in a court.
Mr Adundi was recorded as saying: “If you put your hand on me I will put you to sleep.”
PC Boddie told magistrates in Salisbury, Wiltshire: “I took that as a threat.
“He was in a fighting stance, I’m trained to recognise that. I saw the male punch PC Weston.”
She said she did not know if he had a weapon and thought it was reasonable to use the Taser.
Prosecutors alleged she acted unlawfully by firing at Mr Adunbi outside his home in Easton, Bristol, in January last year.
They said his arms were by his side. But Richard Shepherd, defending said Boddie had “acted perfectly properly.”
And deputy chief magistrate Tanweer Ikram said the prosecution had failed to persuade him PC Boddie did not act in self defence. He said she had mistaken Mr Adunbi for a wanted man known to use violence.
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He said: “I look through officer Boddie’s eyes with that in mind.”
The court heard Mr Adunbi worked with Avon and Somerset Constabulary.
PC Boddie, now an acting sergeant, had denied assault by beating.