A THAMES Valley Police officer has been sentenced after hitting a child and leaving him naked in a cell.

Police Sergeant (PS) Matthew Myers, 49, was at Luton Magistrates’ Court on Monday after ‘abusing his position’ on January 4, 2020.

Investigators from the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) looked at CCTV from the Banbury custody suite and interviewed detention officers working at the time to put the case against him.

The footage revealed that PS Myers had struck the 16-year-old boy on the face and then removed his clothing – leaving him naked until the detention officer came into the cell to help him.

At court he was ordered to do 200 hours of unpaid work.

IOPC regional director Graham Beesley said: “PS Myers abused his position as a custody sergeant to assault a child and he has now been convicted of that offence. 

“His primary duty is to ensure the safety and welfare of all those who are detained and assaulting a looked-after child who was vulnerable, where English was not his first language, is the exact opposite of what the officer should have been doing. 

“The sentence shows that officers are not above the law and this kind of behaviour is not acceptable.”

Thames Valley Police voluntarily referred the case to the IOPC on January 16.

The investigation was completed by May and the evidence was sent to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in June who charged him with battery.

A decision on whether he should face disciplinary action is being considered.

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