Police officer cleared by court after force's race relations adviser was Tasered

A police officer has been cleared of unlawfully Tasering her force's own race relations adviser in the face after he was mistaken for a suspect.

District Judge Tan Ikram found Avon and Somerset Police officer Claire Boddie, 47, not guilty of assault by beating at Salisbury Magistrates' Court on Friday.

The acting sergeant stood trial after being accused of unlawfully discharging a Taser and hitting Judah Adunbi, 64, in Bristol on January 14 last year.

The court heard he had repeatedly been mistaken for a suspect before and after the incident.

There was silence in the court as the verdict was announced and the 47-year-old sat in the dock looking at the floor.

Mr Adunbi and his supporters left the room immediately after the judge left.

Judge Ikram said: "The issue for me is whether the prosecution have persuaded me that she didn't act in self-defence.

"The prosecution failed to persuade me and she is found not guilty of assault for that reason."