Cop sacked for grabbing boy by the neck

A GREATER Manchester Police officer convicted of grabbing a boy by the neck at a children's home has been sacked from the force after a misconduct hearing.

- 

Now former PC Benjamin Heppenstall was found guilty by a jury at Bolton Crown Court in September last year of assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH) after twice grabbing the 16 year-old by the neck and ripping his T-shirt off his back.

In January 2021, Heppenstall, who was based at GMP's Wigan division, was responding to an incident not involving the boy where threats had allegedly been made to two women who worked at the home.

Two suspects were arrested and were present in a room with the two alleged victims, who were unharmed. Heppenstall told the boy, who was sat near the suspects on a sofa, to get out of the room and 'go to bed'.