Five Metropolitan Police officers are accused of beating up a mental health patient at a north London hospital by striking him with “fists and batons”, a court has heard.
The officers – all PCs on the Met’s Central North Command – have been charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent on David Bailey, 57, in an incident in April 2023.
On Tuesday, Westminster magistrates court heard the PCs are accused of using “excessive force” to restrain Mr Bailey when he was being transported from a hospital.
“The alleged victim in this case was suffering from psychosis and a mental health episode outside the hospital”, said prosecutor Agathe Leport.
“Officers transported him to a mental health ward where he was assisted and discharged.
“On coming back to the mental health ward to transport the defendant to Highbury, officers used excessive force to restrain him, to place him in handcuffs.
“It’s the use of fists and batons to restrain him.”
Criminal charges of inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent and a lesser alternative of causing grievous bodily harm were brought after an Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) investigation.
The IOPC previously said Mr Bailey “fell unconscious” after the incident, and was placed in a medically induced coma after receiving emergency first aid. He was discharged from hospital six weeks later.
The accused officers are PCs Elena Cebotari, 35, David Hollands, 25, Dan Penfold, 33, Robert Wall, 26, and Anthony Bhar, 31.
On Tuesday, PC Bhar, 31, of Hythe in Kent, appeared in the dock to face the charges.
His colleagues are all due in court on August 15, but his court hearing was moved forward due to a pre-booked holiday.
Bhar did not formally enter pleas, but his lawyer indicated he intends to contest the allegations. His case was sent to Snaresbrook Crown Court for a pre-trial hearing in September.
Previously, the Met said the alleged victim was “detained under the Mental Health Act” on April 3, 2023, having reportedly been “seen to be behaving erratically in the street, threatening members of the public and setting fire to his clothing”.
“While in hospital, the man became agitated and was restrained by officers. He was subsequently released from hospital the following month.”
Chief Superintendent Jason Stewart, who leads policing for Central North Command, said: “It is always a matter of deep regret when a member of public is injured through an interaction with officers and I know this matter will cause concern. We must now let criminal proceedings proceed unhindered while continuing to maintain an open dialogue with the community.”
Bhar was released on unconditional bail while the criminal case continues.
