Video: Police officer dismissed after assaulting shoplifter

The officer can be seen aggressively tugging at the woman's hair

An officer has been dismissed from the Metropolitan Police after video emerged of him punching a suspected shoplifter.

An officer has been dismissed from the Metropolitan Police after video emerged of him punching a suspected shoplifter.

In February, James Kiddie, 46, was convicted of common assault and had to perform community service for his attack on Sarah Reed at the Uniqlo store on Regent Street in November, 2012.

Now, two years after the assault, the Metropolitan Police force has fired Kiddie.

Westminster borough commander Chief Superintendent Paul Rickett said: "Police officers join the Met to protect and serve the public and I was extremely shocked to learn and indeed see what happened.

"Where an officer's behaviour falls short of the very high standards that we and the public expect of them, then it is only right that they are held to account and Pc Kiddie has paid for his actions today.

"Behaviour such as this casts a shadow over the thousands of officers who are on duty right now demonstrating bravery, compassion, integrity and professionalism."

Kiddie said in court earlier this year that Reed had bitten him on the finger and said she had HIV.

The video shows Kiddie pushing Reed onto the chair and then aggressively tugging at her hair. He then hits Reed on the head as she lies on the floor.

Kiddie appealed his conviction in April but the judge upheld the magistrate's findings.