A police officer involved in a controversial incident where an elderly amputee was pepper sprayed and tasered at a care home has said he was unaware the 92-year-old man was disabled.
The case, heard at Southwark Crown Court, concerns PC Stephen Smith and PC Rachel Comotto.
Who responded to reports of a resident allegedly poking a staff member with a knife at a care home in St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex, on 21 June 2022.
Body camera footage showed the officers confronting Donald Burgess, who was holding a small butter knife-like object and used a wheelchair.
PC Smith pepper sprayed Burgess before using a baton, while PC Comotto deployed a taser.