Police officer hit vulnerable man over the head with baton after he went into a police station for help, court told

By ANDY DOLAN, GENERAL REPORTER Published: 15:45, 3 August 2026 | Updated: 15:46, 3 August 2026 A police officer hit a vulnerable man with cerebral palsy on the head with his baton, causing him to bleed, a court heard today.  Jurors heard Shaun Elliott, 56, caused Kian Green 'observable terror' when he hit him with the weapon during an arrest December 2022.  Elliott, who was a serving Derbyshire Police constable at the time, allegedly told Mr Green to 'stop being silly' and to behave or he would be 'dragged backwards', is charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm. Prosecutor Philip Cowburn said: 'This case revolves around an unfortunate set of circumstances where a police officer, the prosecution will say, went too far.  'In reality, the crux of this case is about four seconds long.  'On the 30th of December of 2022, the defendant struck Kian Green, a suspect in his care, on the head with his extendable baton.  'That caused an injury which bled.'  Derby Crown Court heard Mr Green, who has been diagnosed with autism, cerebral palsy and asthma, went to the police station in Buxton because he received a letter he 'wanted some help with'.  Shaun Elliott, 56, pictured at an earlier court appearance, allegedly struck Kian 'on the head, causing his head to begin to bleed'  Another officer decided Mr Green should be arrested after he saw information on the police computer, jurors were told.  Mr Cowburn added: 'I will say from the outset you are likely to think none of the police officers in this case did themselves any favours or portrayed themselves in any real glory.'  Mr Green told the two officers arresting him that he had cerebral palsy, which jurors heard was relevant 'to his ability to stand up and move'.  Jurors heard that an officer told Mr Green they would get his medication, before he ended up on the floor while being handcuffed.  Mr Cowburn said Mr Green became 'increasingly distressed', adding: 'He tries to use his inhaler but officers push it away from his mouth.'  The prosecutor said Elliott then arrives at the scene and 'does not ask what's happening'.  'Kian begins to shout about not being able to straighten his leg and needs to pull it straight on his own. The defendant just stands watching,' Mr Cowburn said.  The prosecutor added: 'You'll consider the way that the defendant interacts with and speaks to Kian Green, telling him to stop being silly and to stand up, telling him to behave and straighten his leg or he'll be dragged backwards. ' Telling him he's 'shouting like a girl'.'  The prosecutor added that Mr Green was carried to a police van by officers and the leg he wanted to straighten out was 'held down', before he started banging his head on the floor.  Mr Cowburn told jurors: 'The defendant takes out his extendable baton, moves it towards Kian Green's hands and then raises it. Kian Green started to scream.  'What you might think when you watch the footage is observable terror.  'At this stage, the defendant brings his baton down and strikes Kian on the head, causing his head to begin to bleed.  'After striking Kian, this defendant accuses him of biting his colleague. The prosecution say this did not happen.'  Mr Cowburn added: 'The defendant says 'You don't go biting officers', Kian says 'I didn't'. 'The defendant says 'You did. That's why you got tw*****'.'  Footage of the incident captured on a body-worn camera was played to jurors and showed Mr Green shouting inside the van with blood dripping down his face.  Mr Cowburn said there was 'no need' for Elliott, of Ashbourne in Derbyshire, to strike Mr Green with the baton and there were 'missed opportunities' to de-escalate the situation.  He told jurors: 'Police officers in this country, members of the jury, are allowed and trusted to carry weapons throughout the course of their duties.  'What we don't allow police officers to do, though, is to use those weapons on innocent and indeed vulnerable people – people in their care.'  Elliott, who no longer works as a police officer, denies assault.  The trial, which is expected to last three days, continues. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.