Detention officer is jailed for scalding prisoner

Adrian Law, 45, was working at Barnsley Police Station when he put his hand through the hatch on a cell door splashing hot water over Abdul Aziz Alfadley, scalding his lower abdomen and genitals.

After more than nine hours of deliberation a jury at Leeds Crown Court yesterday cleared Law on the more serious charge of causing Mr Alfadley, 26, grievous bodily harm with intent, but convicted him by a 10-2 majority of inflicting grievous bodily harm to him.

Sentencing Law, of Cromwell Court, Goldthorpe, near Barnsley, Mr Justice Spencer said it was a “cynical act” against someone in his care.

“Detention officers have a difficult job to do but they are professionals and the essence of their role is the care and welfare of detainees.”

“The public has to trust police officers and detention officers manning police stations to treat detainees fairly and humanely. It is the mark of a civilised society and you grossly breached that trust and brought into disrepute the police force that employed you.”

The seven man five woman jury heard during the trial that Mr Alfadley was arrested in Barnsley town centre in the early hours of May 30 last year on a public order offence for which he was later fined.

The judge said Mr Alfadley was “undoubtedly a difficult detainee.” He was obstructive and unco-operative.

He could not be read his rights because of his behaviour and a decision was made to strip search him because it was feared he was under the influence of drugs.

He was left wearing just his boxer shorts and was heard shouting and banging repeatedly on the door of his cell.

But the judge told Law: “none of that is any excuse for what you did to Mr Alfadley.

“He was entitled to just the same standard of care and protection as any other detainee.”

“If anything his agitated state made him more vulnerable.”

“Why you did what you did to him only you know. I accept it was out of character but it was a wicked thing you did.”

He said Mr Alfadley must have been in “excruciating pain” as the water caused blistering on his abdomen, penis and scrotum.

The jury heard the water was brought from the kitchen where the geyser temperature was measured at 94.7C.

Mr Alfadley, from Kuwait, who used an Arabic interpreter told the jury he was left crying in pain fearing he had “lost my sexuality and was no longer a man.”

He tried to splash cold water on himself but the supply was then cut off. He was later taken to hospital where he spent 24 hours with “partial thickness burns” and some blistering.

The judge ordered his sentencing remarks should be translated into Arabic for him “since in the light of the jury’s verdict he has been very badly treated.”

Law maintained in evidence it was cold water in the plastic cup which the prisoner had knocked from his hand.

After sentence he was taken from the dock by security officers – a job he did himself until becoming a detention officer around six years ago for the police with an “exemplary” record.

South Yorkshire Police Deputy Chief Constable Bob Dyson said they had worked with the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) to investigate the incident.

“The actions of Adrian Law on that day fell far below the standards that we expect from our staff in the custody suites, who owe a duty of care to those being detained.”

“Mr Law let down the public and let down his colleagues. On behalf of the force, I apologise to Mr Abdul Alfadley for the injuries he received.”

IPCC commissioner Nicholas Long said one could only assume Law’s actions were “borne out of frustration.”

The custody sergeant who failed to respond to Mr Alfadley’s situation in his cell sooner faced a misconduct meeting and received a written warning.