CCTV footage of a Police sergeant using ‘simply inexcusable’ force against 2 detainees in custody at Newport has been released following the dismissal of Sgt Simon Lythgoe yesterday (Thursday).
As first reported by Island Echo, 50-year-old Simon Lythgoe appeared before a Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary misconduct hearing in Eastleigh, Southampton on Monday, facing action for breaching professional standards by use of force and discreditable conduct.
After just 3 days of hearing the evidence against him, the panel found the experienced copper – who had served with Hampshire Constabulary for over 25 years – guilty of misconduct by using force on 2 occasions that was unnecessary, unreasonable and disproportionate.
He was immediately sacked from the Force on Thursday afternoon.
It was heard this week that on 15th January this year, Sgt Lythgoe grabbed a detained male by the neck in what appeared to be a demonstration of power. CCTV footage shown to the misconduct hearing shows Lythgoe coming out from behind his desk and grabbing the male, pinning him against the wall by his neck.
Less than a month later, on 5th February 2022, Sgt Lythgoe used force again, this time on a vulnerable female who was pinned down in her cell. CCTV footage showed Sgt Lythgoe grabbing her by the neck area.
Now, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary has released the footage of both incidents with a clear message that it will not tolerate such behaviour.
Deputy Chief Constable Sam de Reya of Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary has said:
“The public should have confidence that when we use our policing powers to arrest and bring people into our custody suites, detainees will be treated with compassion and care.
“The case involving Sgt Lythgoe and the level of force demonstrated by him on duty is incredibly disappointing and completely unjustified. This is not the way we care, manage and deliver safe detention for the 25,000 people who every year come through the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary custody centres.
“This type of extreme behaviour is never acceptable and goes against everything we, as officers and staff, work hard to honour and protect every day; to protect the public and keep our communities a safe place for all.
“This case was highlighted to our Professional Standards team by a person working within the custody block, Sgt Lythgoe was placed on directed duties and the circumstances were thoroughly investigated leading to the misconduct hearing. A comprehensive review of the evidence by the misconduct panel has rightly led to the immediate dismissal of this officer. This demonstrates that we act quickly as a force to ensure we proactively investigate offences, misconduct and poor levels of service and root out those who have no place in the police service.
“Our officers and staff operate to the highest standards of behaviour and professionalism expected of our communities and colleagues. They are committed to bringing criminals to justice and are regularly putting themselves in harm’s way to protect people and save lives. When the standards of one individual fall short, it impacts on us all.
“Due to the complex and sometimes violent nature of the policing role, we do have to engage the necessary policing powers and at times use force. We have clear guidance, training and scrutiny to ensure when we do apply force it is proportionate and necessary.
“The panel has concluded the physical actions of Sgt Lythgoe were simply inexcusable and he has been dismissed with immediate effect. On behalf of the force, I would like to apologise to the victims in this case and thank the colleague who stepped forward to challenge and report behaviour.”
In 2016, Sgt Lythgoe was recognised for his good work in helping a distressed lady to come away from a cliff edge. In 2018, he broke a world record for weightlifting.
In the past 18 months alone there have been a total of 10 misconduct hearings carried out by Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary and it is understood there is at least 1 more hearing relating to an Isle of Wight officer scheduled for the coming months.
The bloke clearly has anger issues and for the other police officers to just stand and watch him grab someone round the throat and throw him on the floor is also worrying and then to do the same to a woman someone needs to check on this man’s wife
Shocking behaviour, the other officers should have stepped in to stop
what was happening.
Good point Chris, I hope someone will do so.
As we watch the reputation of the Police Force deteriorate further, due to their reluctance to investigate the crimes which affect us, yet act very heavy handedly against vulnerable people, we wonder how low can it go.
They have been entrusted with power and the authority, but misapply it – no wonder so few members of the public now have a positive impression of this organisation which they entrust and fund to protect us.
Isn’t it about time an independent body is set up to oversee their actions, rather than allowing them to handle their own complaints ?
What a juiced up roidy bully! This joke of a man should now be charged with assault! What a pathetic man! Stay off the gear you angry t**t, makes you wonder what he’s done previously and got away with!
Should be charged with assault.
What an absolute p***k! Fueling his ego, lay off the roids meathead and good riddance! Shame on the staff standing by not doing anything.
do not like him atall always gave me shit in custody even when i was innocent quite chuffed seeing he lost his job
perhaps if you were able to conduct yourself in a civilised manner and respect others and their property, then you wouldn’t have been in custody would you – deadbeat
and yet you became a frequent visitor
So the beatings didn’t stop you from commuting more crimes? Ohhh haha the comments said the old 70s policing would stop that ?
These boomers wouldn’t survive in our world now they really wouldn’t. Just be glad you got all your money when the country was booming. Shame you couldn’t use your perfect morals to stop all the industries from leaving the country for cheaper labour. Stood back and watched inflation take over everyone’s wages. Let’s hope they don’t take your pensions and mortgages soon. Coz is youth won’t be helping you. Thanks for leaving us this shit country now. Well done judgemental fucks. You all sat back and watched and now wonder why there so many poor people trying to survive committing crimes.
Oh, don’t worry. The “triple lock” will be going in the next parliament. It’s unaffordable to keep funding a burgeoning geriatric population with a shrinking working population.
We need to cut state pensions or increase the retirement age (to at least 70).
And don’t think the Tory promise to keep the triple lock will be honoured. I mean they always make good on their promises and never, ever, lie do they?
Oh, wait. . .
He should never have been a police man the wrong attitude and anger issues by the look of that picture
Quite shocking it makes you wonder how such a bully can have served in the police for 25 years with an attitude like that, expect to see the #metoo hash tag from all the others he has assaulted.
I knew standards had dropped from the language police use in the street “Oy You!” seems to be a favourite when addressing a member of the public.
Simon has done tons for the community, I can certainly say he has, I’ve witnessed it. Certainly no bully and without a doubt not as it seems. Does 25 years service stand for nothing now. ??! He will be devastated.
No nonsense is not a bad trait to have. It commands respect, they guy certainly does not deserve to called a steroid freak for looking after his self physical, nor does he deserve to have his family dragged into it from trolls on socials. Has no one made a mistake in life because we all have, this has costs him his career and life time of work. Trail by social medial is more corrupt than anything. We only no what the media has stated not all the facts post.
Try looking at the video meathead. Or was it all made up in your mind.
Jimmy Saville did tons for the community pal, doesn’t mean you aren’t a nasty piece of work in your regular walk of life. I know people who’ve come across him and think he’s an absolute twat. Full of himself, mysogynistic ,and intimidating. You don’t earn the reputation he has as an arsehole for no reason.
And how much has been covered up in the last 25 years if he acts like that in front of his work colleagues what’s he like when they are not about I’m sure more people will come forward now
He knew the consequences of his actions, how many unreported incidents occurred prior to these , is the bigger question ?,very unusual for the police to be so transparent, which makes you think , they wanted him out.
Aside from the assault there are two things that bother me. Firstly this animal went undetected for 25 years. God knows how many others he bullied over a quarter of a century. Secondly, the officers standing by watching. They are police officers, they need to learn how to police. A crime being committed right in front of them, no matter where it happens, is something they should act upon to protect the public.
I grew up with Simon….you clearly don’t know alot ! Always on a jumped up power rush that thought he was better and stronger than everyone else! How the mighty fall
The camera does not lie…
The evidence is there in the video, serves him right
Naive , you’ve probably most definitely only dealt with the police at fetes and festivals. At the back of the island in your tiny posh community that won’t let any one from outside join. And you probably moved here in your sixties lol. Only born and bred islanders know what these police are truly like. Growing up on the island being hidden from the tourists and constantly moved on to the point we are criminalised for being young. You have no idea. We have been subject to abuse from these bullies all our lives. They only look after the rich and tourists thsi is facts to all true islanders know what I write
Simon helped my son about 20 yrs ago. My son ended up in hospital after an incident at Ryde high school and Simon went above and beyond to support us and help. Without Simons support my son may not be where he is today, both in his educational and personal life. Thank you Simon.
Soooooo we are sticking up for this man I was 14 when I come out of that police station battered black and blue thank you yeah if she knew what he was like she clearly should have got him to change jobs they anit all like that but a shame people will only just stand up and say this is not acceptable behaviour but most will just stick up for their colleagues
Most of the fools on here have never worked in the public , or had conflict on a daily basis, with the same scum,getting off with weak courts. So they make a judgement without any understanding. Dumb.
Big Ben, unfortunately this was not an isolated case and it makes me wonder how many times he has got away with this sort of action. The credibility of the police is dropping, I have experienced threatening behaviour from them when on more than one occasion such as having a baton flipped out on me when sitting at Newport bus station suffering with something called hypo kalemia but the policeman insisted I was drunk and upsetting an elderly woman, I was actually on my way to St Mary’s. I should have made a formal complaint.
Take it from Jo, scum specialist.
Should have been promoted in my book
YES – Absolutely the right way to treat these deadbeat s cumbags – should have toed him in on the floor as well – deserves a promotion.
So assaulting a female is sanctioned by the moronic lowlife called “Islander” is it?
You, and all your aliases on here who, with your limited knowledge of the English language are so keen on the word “scumbag” are happy to see a police officer beat up a woman.
By condoning that you show that you are the true “scumbag”.
You are the true “deadbeat”.
It could be you next C
Can’t see a problem myself. Police take a lot of crap from scumbags and I am surprised they don’t lose it a little more often. Not like the scumbag suspect was a fine upstanding pillar of the community. The Sweeney approach gets a thumbs up from me.
So says the homophobe with far to many silly aliases… If only your real name appeared on here?
somewhat ironic, as you use the name fedup
I think most of us can probably sympathise to a degree with someone losing their rag with some of the moronic people around, but as a police officer you simply can’t do it, or not these days anyway.
Maybe if we heard what was going on before or what was said to the officer it might put it in context a bit, but still it’s not behaviour an officer can hope to get away with these days.
Doesn’t matter what happened before hand. You can clearly see in the video with the female she is blatantly having a go and probably trying to rile him up. But that’s what the job entails. People that are intoxicated and arrested don’t normally agree with being so, and will try and annoy the officers. But that doesn’t mean they can choke slam people. Especially not a female half his size! Even the bloke in the custody suite wasn’t doing anything other than mouthing off.
And for the people saying it’s awful that his colleagues did nothing, they did. They reported him. What were they supposed to do at the time? He would’ve just turned on them also.
This disgusting power hungry lump of a ‘man’ needs locking up.
she and her ilk demand equality – well, get treated the same as a man then – suck it up buttercup
As an afterthought, I wonder if the officer would have got a similar reaction from people commenting if the individual in custody had been a child molester or someone who was caught with child porn etc? (I have no idea what he was in custody for and I’m certainly not implying it is anything of the sort, it is a purely hypothetical question)
I think we’ve all read plenty of comments written about what we’d like seen done to these people. Or is that just all talk?
Just interested if that would change people’s opinion or not?
It doesn’t matter, the police are not there to assault people no matter what they are there for. We all like to think justice is a smack to the head but if he does this to one, or two, he could do it to me or you.
I think the rule of thumb with English justice is “innocent until proven guilty” so no matter the charges they may not hold up in court unless it’s the court of assumption so prevelant on The Island or keyboard Echoitea who think they know what’s going on who said what, when and how many times! He was found guilty of being a bully by his peers “end of” what he has/hasn’t done for community is neither here nor there, ergo”jimmy Saville the people’s champuin”right”!.
It doesn’t matter what the people in custody may or may not have done, this sort of behaviour is simply unacceptable from a police officer. What sort of society would we end up with if we just turned a blind eye to police brutality? “I’ve pulled you over for a broken bulb so now I’m going to beat the living daylights out of you”?
Try to be more realistic, and stop snowflaking, if I was in the police force, I too would loose my rag. Dealing with the lowlife in this lawless country, can’t be easy….
It is not the officer’s job to make value judgments about what the person is there for. There are processess set down for dealing with people and as long as officers follow them it protects both the police and the public. In the UK our police do not, as a matter of course, carry arms. Rather, they police by consent and this requires the support of the public. The moment actions like this officer’s become accepted, the confidence in our police is undermined and they can no longer police by consent.
There goes his police pension.
He will not live anyhow to draw a pension with all the steroids he is taking
The scum who watched him and did nothing to stop him are equally complicit and should also be sacked.
ABSOLUTELY!!!
No do the rest of the scummy officers watching him and doing nothing. They should all be sacked. If I saw something like that where I worked and said nothing I’d be sacked too.
You sad pathetic human.
Bet if it was you getting your throat crushed you’d change your attitude pretty fast. Stupid, small minded people like you are the biggest of all hypocrites.
Out in the street dealing with the scum of the earth I would look the other way. But not in a police station with the arrestees already restrained or in a cell.
Much respect for taking no nonsense. He obviously wasn’t doing anything wrong as numerous officers stood by and watched.
His actions might be the only deterant these scum bags respond to,we are all to soft nowadays and nasty scum get treated to well, if you do as asked when stopped by police or when in custody then this doesn’t happen,but so many scummy drugged up crims give attitude and abuse and swear and lash out. Shame he’s lost his job as his way probably made a difference.
This is what steroids do to meat heads prove in the pudding
People don’t know what the circumstances were, so don’t start judging the situation.
We recently watch a person behave in an extreme violent verbal way at bar staff in Stratford Upon Avon.
After police were called he needed restraining and walking out of the premises by two police officers. The police officers were spat at in their face, he refused to get in the police car and was kicking off when the van arrived, it was a very frightening experience.
If force was used perhaps that was needed.
The offender didn’t think twice before obviously committing a crime did he/her.
What do people actually want from the police for gods sake.
Words do not physically harm anyone
A officer lost his job for refusing a drug injection in the bum
The runt probably deserved it
The ‘officers’ who stood lamely-by and failed to intervene, are just as culpable and are therefore condoning this outburst. They too should face disciplinary action. I’m sorry that Simon has lost his job and all that goes with it., it is very sad to see a blooming good copper have to end his career like this.
Despicable person ! Just goes to show you never know who your dealing with even in the police!
Well said Nigel. Hampshire Police and the all law abiding public`s loss.
Hardly assault, didn’t see him punch or kick,he didn’t use a weapon purely put in place individuals that were not cooperating as should. Like most videos we don’t see what started this and full story, they might of been making threats to his family or other officers or might of damaged custody etc.
If you walked into a police station and did that to a police officer you’ll be locked up for a few years. He should be jailed along with the other so-called officers who watched him commit a crime and did nothing about it. Questions need to be asked about this thugs history, how many other people has he assaulted over the years? Over the last few years how many police officers have been charged with serious crimes and jailed? This thug is just another criminal masquerading as a law enforcer. Also as a senior officer he is supposed to set a good example to other officers, clearly he’s doing the opposite. No wonder they get so much bad press.
Thrown under the bus by one his own, shows what high esteem they had for there Sargent, his lack of ability to do his job correctly within the framework of the Law has cost him dearly, he knew what he was doing, and the consequences, he didn’t however count on be reported on it.
Deserves everything he got, good luck with your next job !
good luck with expecting a strong police officer to stop a drug addled maniac attacking you, seeing as you only want weak, snowflake coppers these days.
Correct, even more so if I’m handcuffed and with my trousers around my ankles
Still trying to understand what the problem is this is proper policing which we had in the 70’s
The problem is, that he assaulted a man who had his hands secured behind his back and posed no threat to the sergeant.
Sorry but good people don’t go to the nick … criminals do! Yes his hands are cuffed, but his mouth wasn’t!
Actually good people can go to the nick. They can get accused of something they haven’t done and if its a serious crime be arrested and brought in for questioning. You could be unfortunate enough to be in that position too one day. You never know what the future holds. But you would hope those in charge didn’t attack you when your helpless and unable to defend yourself.
Some good people do get arrested, even if there isn’t any evidence. That’s why people are arrested ‘on suspicion’ of an offence. They are usually arrested, put into a cell and questioned. Then the police have to either charge the person or release them under investigation.
I have been in this position in the past. I had an alleged offence hanging over me for several months before the CPS decided there was no case to answer.
I suggest that you research police procedure before you claim that ‘good people don’t go to the nick’.
Let’s hope that you don’t get arrested on a false accusation.
On the contrary, let’s hope they are and treat it as a valuable learning experience.
You have heard of “innocent until proven guilty”, right.
Plenty of people are arrested and released without charge, and many of those do give the police lip because, guess what, they haven’t committed a crime.
Think of that the next time someone who dislikes you (of which there are probably many) tips off the police that they saw you necking a skinful before getting in your car.
Shouldn’t have been their.
I have seen authority figures act in a similar way to convicted men who have been screaming, “do it – you’ll be doing me a favour”. One hour later THEY apologise to to the authority figure and say they will behave themselves now. If you have never known true violence you cannot understand what drives it to be used. Or how the minds of violent men work. When we have violence on our streets and the police are busy trying to talk looters into stopping what they are doing you may realise that some people just do NOT respond to words alone. Ten seconds of video does show a man’s career. Thrown under the bus to protect “the good name” of the police is the ultimate management corruption.
Hampshire Police are renowned for throwing their staff under a bus unless it’s senior management when the real corruption starts and they protect them. You only need to see the stories about the ex Assistant Chief Sarah Glenn to see that..
He was doing what most of the people who comment on this page say they want to do. It was wrong what he did ,full stop. But after 25 years on the job I think he just broke. Most decent people would when the force is overstretched and you feel like you’re fighting a losing battle. Chances are he wasn’t appreciated like most civil SERVANTS are. I hope this turns out to be his blessing in disguised
Where can we get someone who can make new barrows because the old one is rotten
Narcissist, Corrupt and Always Abuse Their Powers… One’s just got nicked for murder ffs!!
And they wonder why there is no confidence nor trust in these, R-Sole Oppressors? Hahahahaha!!
Another blue light bully.
Glad he was sacked, now a prosecution needed for assault, time in prison too..
Total respect for the Police officer ,we need a few more like him. What a sad way to end his career. Don’t judge him ,you have no idea what had happened before hand in this incident.
Irrelevant.
I guess if you get arrested for something you didn’t do, you’d be all meek and mild, would you?
SPOT ON!!!!
“Good old fashioned policing, just like the 60s and 70s”
Corrupt, racist and sexist. Thank F it’s not like that any more.
That will teach ya! Too many steroids! Haha goon
Thank goodness for camera’s…
Officers are subject to random drugs tests with no notice, working in a medical capacity in this custody for 5.5 years, he never failed a test, so no steroids there.
Police training involves this de-esculation, .he
Stopped a situation esculating further clearly he had no support to rely on from other officers, as for the woman, we don’t know the full story…. over in seconds.
So this is how we treat officers with impecable long service.
He was highly respected and I’ve seen him spend hours talking to detainees in cells, taking abuse, always calm and saved a life.
Wish he was still in service, next time my house gets robbed, I see sex offenders stalking and no police turn up or are now fearful to do anything.
The radon drug tests don’t test for anabolic steroids unless it is an additional test….. also you saying about the police now not turning up because they’re fearful to do anything. I don’t see the difference, they haven’t turned ip for years unless it’s something exciting and then 5 cars can turn up to have a look….
See totally Agree. You were one of the good ones. Yet another good police officer sacked because he isn’t a woke snowflake!
Good old fashioned policemen would not grab the throat of a man who already had his hands secured behind his back. Take another look at the video.
I’m very impressed the Police have made the video public, despite it being embarrassing for them, showing police behaviour at its worst.
It helps restore confidence that they’re not turning a blind eye. A nightmare for the victims.
Well did the other officers in that video turn a blind eye?
The man is a hole and 25 years serving as should be locked up at least when I got booted out of the army I asked if I could join again and the answer was yes please join a different regiment because not allowed back to that one and I’ve never had a problem.
that’s how to deal with the dregs, you’ll have second thoughts about going back to see him
Ok yes it looks excessive, but we don’t know that the reprobate wasn’t saying loads of vile slur to the officer, we don’t know that he didn’t threaten the officers family safety! We don’t know that he wasn’t kicking off in the lead up to the video clip! Prison and the nick should be a place that criminals should be scared of! The police station needs to be a place you don’t want to go! Maybe if people feared going to prison! Or feared going to the nick they would think twice about carrying knifes & stabbing killing people! Criminals would think twice about what they’re doing and crime would decrease because there’s a deterrent! Maybe that poor girl on the mainland wouldn’t have lost her life if there was more officers like this !!
Are you still
Not understanding they have been using that old fashion policing since then and have gotten a lot worse then when you grew up, not like your day with a Clíp round the ear but breaking teenagers bones and then making out they are resisting and sticking more charges, sending youth that have never left the island to prison and then the youth coming back to your lovely peaceful delusional island as hardened criminals all for a shoplifting offence or another low level crime. The island failings are because of the police and the judgmental community that stick there noses up and the lower classes on this island. The police have been attacking us for years. You reap what you sow
Although this was brought to the attention by a member of their team , why wasn’t he stopped by any of the officers, in the video it seems they stood there and watched ! I do feel the officers should be allowed to use force when or if necessary but in the video it didn’t seem required
maybe he was a seargent and they were pcs and were afraid to step in , but was a pc who reported
total abuse of power , the man is a bully , i have had dealings with him when he phoned me off duty and told me there was no such thing as autism and he could come round off duty and sort my son out , when i disagreed with him he threatened me , complaint was made but no evidence , atleast this time there is evidence and good riddence to a narcissistic power freak , feel sorry for his wife and kids
The other officers should be held accountable for not stopping him, shameful you lot should all quit, your not fit to wear that uniform, as for Simon Lythgoe he needs to lose that pension and the victims should do him for assault.
Hahaha and they expect us to respect police not a chance disgusting thug should be in prison