Policeman sentenced to six months for assault

A police sergeant who injured a woman when he assaulted her in a cell has been jailed for six months.

Sgt Mark Andrews was caught on CCTV dragging Pamela Somerville, 59, across the floor of Melksham police station in Wiltshire before shoving her into the cell.

Ms Somerville was arrested in July 2008 after being found asleep in her car. She was detained for failing to provide a sample for a breath test.

The CCTV footage shows her lying on the floor for a minute before struggling to get up with blood pouring from a head wound.

Former soldier Andrews was convicted of assault causing actual bodily harm after a trial at Oxford Magistrates' Court in July. The 37-year-old, who was suspended on full pay after his conviction, was sentenced at the same court.

Ms Somerville was taken to Royal United Hospital in Bath and needed stitches in a gash above her eye.

Ms Somerville, a market researcher from Chippenham, Wiltshire, described the attack as a "horrific nightmare". She said: "I will never forget it. I would love to be able to take a tablet to make me forget it but I never will. It was just a horrific nightmare. I thought they had mistaken me with a murderer or drug smuggler or terrorist."

She said she wanted to move on from the attack but called for Andrews to make a personal apology: "I would like him to say sorry and I would like him to do it personally - I think that's the least anybody could do," she said.