Post by The Dark Knight on Aug 15, 2011 18:31:27 GMT
A police inspector has been jailed for six months after he wrongfully arrested a taxi driver while drunk – then lied to cover it up.
Anthony Mee, 38, was found guilty of misconduct in a public office and perverting the course of justice last month.
The disgraced policeman has now been locked up after being sentenced by a Crown Court judge.
Mee had arrested cabbie Munawar Luqman in a dispute over cash after a boozy night out in Manchester.
The senior officer – who had drunk at least five vodka Red Bulls and some red wine – launched a foul-mouthed tirade at Mr Luqman, claiming he was being falsely imprisoned after the driver refused to let him out.
A court heard how he told Mr Luqman: “I told you to let me out. I’m going to lock you up.”
Mee, a GMP officer with more than 15 years’ experience, denied any wrongdoing and claimed he feared being kidnapped by Mr Luqman.
He told the court he suffered from claustrophobia. Prosecutors said that Mee knew he had made ‘a big mistake’ and was lying to save his job – and more embarrassment.
A jury at Chester Crown Court found the officer wrongfully arrested the driver, and was lying. Judge David Hale has now jailed the inspector for six months at Warrington Crown Court.
During the trial, Mee said he had been drinking with colleagues and hailed a taxi to take him home to Marple, Stockport.
He paid £30 up front and ‘dozed off’ for a while, waking up as the cab was approaching Portwood Roundabout in Stockport.
Mee claimed Mr Luqman then asked him for more money to finish the journey – a claim the cabbie denied.
The officer became aggressive and rang 999, saying he was being falsely imprisoned and demanding Mr Luqman pull over immediately.
Mr Luqman told the jury that the defendant was very drunk and it would have been dangerous to let him out straight away. The driver pulled over on Hall Street, Stockport, less than a mile later.
Mee’ s emergency call, played to the jury, recorded him repeatedly swearing at the driver.
He denied misconduct in a public office and a second charge of perverting the course of justice, but was found guilty by a jury after a seven-day trial.
Following the case, Greater Manchester Police confirmed that Mee has resigned his post.
Inspector Donna Smith, from the force’s professional standards branch, said: “We expect the highest level of professionalism and integrity from our officers.
“In this case, Inspector Mee’s conduct fell far below those standards, and his sentence proves we will investigate and prosecute anyone who breaks the law, and that includes police officers.”
Source: Manchester Evenings News
Anthony Mee, 38, was found guilty of misconduct in a public office and perverting the course of justice last month.
The disgraced policeman has now been locked up after being sentenced by a Crown Court judge.
Mee had arrested cabbie Munawar Luqman in a dispute over cash after a boozy night out in Manchester.
The senior officer – who had drunk at least five vodka Red Bulls and some red wine – launched a foul-mouthed tirade at Mr Luqman, claiming he was being falsely imprisoned after the driver refused to let him out.
A court heard how he told Mr Luqman: “I told you to let me out. I’m going to lock you up.”
Mee, a GMP officer with more than 15 years’ experience, denied any wrongdoing and claimed he feared being kidnapped by Mr Luqman.
He told the court he suffered from claustrophobia. Prosecutors said that Mee knew he had made ‘a big mistake’ and was lying to save his job – and more embarrassment.
A jury at Chester Crown Court found the officer wrongfully arrested the driver, and was lying. Judge David Hale has now jailed the inspector for six months at Warrington Crown Court.
During the trial, Mee said he had been drinking with colleagues and hailed a taxi to take him home to Marple, Stockport.
He paid £30 up front and ‘dozed off’ for a while, waking up as the cab was approaching Portwood Roundabout in Stockport.
Mee claimed Mr Luqman then asked him for more money to finish the journey – a claim the cabbie denied.
The officer became aggressive and rang 999, saying he was being falsely imprisoned and demanding Mr Luqman pull over immediately.
Mr Luqman told the jury that the defendant was very drunk and it would have been dangerous to let him out straight away. The driver pulled over on Hall Street, Stockport, less than a mile later.
Mee’ s emergency call, played to the jury, recorded him repeatedly swearing at the driver.
He denied misconduct in a public office and a second charge of perverting the course of justice, but was found guilty by a jury after a seven-day trial.
Following the case, Greater Manchester Police confirmed that Mee has resigned his post.
Inspector Donna Smith, from the force’s professional standards branch, said: “We expect the highest level of professionalism and integrity from our officers.
“In this case, Inspector Mee’s conduct fell far below those standards, and his sentence proves we will investigate and prosecute anyone who breaks the law, and that includes police officers.”
Source: Manchester Evenings News