Officers who Tasered 92-year-old amputee are cleared of assault

TWO police officers who used a Taser, baton and synthetic pepper spray on a one-legged, 92-year-old man have been cleared of assault.

- By Mathilde Grandjean

But PCs Stephen Smith, 51, and Rachel Comotto, 36, will now face misconduct hearings, the police watchdog said yesterday.

The officers were accused of using excessive force on wheelchair-user Donald Burgess during a confrontation at his care home. But on Tuesday, a jury returned unanimous verdicts on both of them.

PC Smith was found not guilty of two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. PC Comotto was cleared of one count.