A FORMER police officer from South Gloucestershire has been jailed after being convicted of controlling and coercive behaviour.
A judge described PC Mitchell Curtis, who lived in Mangotsfield, as “deceitful” and a “bully” as he jailed him for three-and-a-half years yesterday.
Curtis, aged 34, was found guilty of two counts of controlling and coercive behaviour, intentional suffocation and criminal damage, following a five-week trial at Gloucester Crown Court last year.
The offences happened in South Gloucestershire, while Curtis was off-duty.
Avon & Somerset police held an accelerated misconduct hearing in February, at which Curtis was found to have committed gross misconduct.
The force said he would have been sacked had he not already resigned, and he has been added to a national list of people barred from working in policing or for other law enforcement agencies.
At the sentencing hearing, Judge Ian Lawrie said Curtis’ was “deceitful” and his conduct and actions were that of “a bully”.
Victim is praised for courage
The judge said Curtis had made his victim feel she wouldn’t be taken seriously if she were to report him.
Judge Lawrie praised the woman for her courage.
Assistant Chief Constable Joanne Hall said: “Mitchell Curtis is a manipulative and violent offender and he’s now facing the consequences of his criminal behaviour.
“The sentencing hearing gives us a further opportunity to emphasise how courageous the victim has been throughout.
“I hope the outcome of the judicial and misconduct proceedings show how seriously we take offences like this and that we’ll be relentless in our pursuit of the perpetrators of abuse.”