A BRADFORD police officer called a man a “d*******" and pushed him 11 times, a misconduct panel heard.

Simon Hartley, 39, admitted gross misconduct by assaulting a member of the public while on duty and would have been sacked if he was still with the force, a hearing concluded on July 18.

The panel heard that Hartley attended Queen’s Road, in Bradford at around 1pm on October 6, 2022.

A heavy goods vehicle was stuck and obstructing the road, which caused traffic congestion.

Hartley got out of his car and was approached by a man who questioned his manner of driving.

The panel heard the former officer responded by calling him a “d*******” and pushed him in the chest.

He did this 11 times, despite the man telling Hartley he was on his property.

Hartley admitted the force he used was “unreasonable and excessive”.

This was all witnessed by other police officers and members of the public, and was widely reported on at the time, with footage shared on social media, which caused reputational damage to the force, the panel heard.

The victim made a formal complaint, and it was investigated as a criminal assault, while Hartley was suspended.

Hartley denied a charge of assault by beating but was found guilty at a trial at Bolton Magistrates’ Court on December 21 last year.

The 39-year-old was sentenced for the offence on February 8 this year at Tameside Magistrates’ Court.

He received a community order, which included 180 hours of unpaid work.

Hartley was also ordered to pay £814 – this consisted of £500 compensation for the victim, £200 in costs, and a surcharge of £114 to fund victim services.

The panel heard the victim suffered pain and injury in the assault, as well as “embarrassment within his community and his family”.

Hartley did not attend the hearing, but the panel was told he had been of previous good character and that “this was a single incident of relatively brief duration”.

He had worked in the police service for 15 years – 11 as a PCSO and four as a PC.

Detective Chief Superintendent Nicola Bryar, Head of West Yorkshire Police’s Professional Standards Directorate, said: “We understand the impact that an incident such as this can have on the public’s confidence in the police. 

“I would like to reassure members of the public that unacceptable use of force such as this is not tolerated.

“This officer was suspended from duty as a result of the complaint made against him and a case built by the Professional Standards Directorate which resulted in him being convicted at court. 

“This misconduct hearing has now found that his behaviour amounted to gross misconduct, and that he would have been dismissed if still serving.

“He will now be added to the College of Policing’s Barred List, preventing him from gaining further employment in policing.”