A SERVING Wiltshire Police officer has been found guilty of common assault.

City of London Court heard how PC Lee Prince assaulted a 17-year-old boy outside Liquor World in White Beam Court, Swindon, whilst on duty as a firearms officer on April 17 last year.

The court heard that PC Prince, who has since been suspended from his post, arrived at the scene shortly after colleagues had detained a teenager on suspicion of criminal damage.

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PC Prince was verbally abusive towards the 17-year-old and twice struck him to the head.

Assistant chief constable Mark Cooper said: “The public rightly expect the highest standards of behaviour from our officers - and where it is found that they have fallen short it is absolutely right that they are held to account.

“It is vital that as an organisation Wiltshire Police continue to rebuild the trust and confidence of the public and in doing so we must show that we will not hesitate to apply the law - without fear or favour.”

PC Prince will be sentenced on April 16.