£400k payout for traffic Pc who was teased over car attack video
A police officer branded a 'laughing stock' for using a truncheon to smash a pensioner's car window has been awarded more than £400,000 compensation from his former force.
Mike Baillon, aged 42, claimed he was forced out of his job due to a 'bullying campaign' by colleagues in Gwent Police, who teased him and wrote comments on his locker at the police station after a YouTube video appeared of him battering the Range Rover of a 74-year-old driver.
The video of Pc Baillon wielding his truncheon became a YouTube sensation – with the tribunal being told it has been viewed online thousands of times.
The tribunal heard that Pc Baillon walked out of his job after being ridiculed every day by his colleagues at the police station where he worked. He sued police chiefs for constructive dismissal after being relieved of carrying out front-line duties.
The experienced officer claimed damages for allegedly being bullied by fellow officers.
He was awarded £429,434.64 for loss of pension had he stayed in the force until the end of his career.
Mr Baillon will also receive in the region of £10,000 for loss of earnings since leaving the force.
Former traffic officer Mr Baillon told the tribunal: "The ridicule from colleagues was getting to me – it was every single day.
"They thought I had done wrong and I was lucky to have got away with it. I just wanted my closure." Mr Baillon was one of two police officers chasing disabled pensioner Robert Whatley as he drove along country roads without a seat belt near Usk, South Wales.
Stroke victim Mr Whatley was pulled over in his black Range Rover – and expected the officers to gently knock on his window.
But instead Pc Baillon attacked his window with a baton 15 times while his colleague climbed onto the bonnet and kicked in the windscreen of the £60,000 car.
The two officers were later cleared of misconduct after an internal investigation but Pc Baillon was later removed from front-line duties.
