Police say they respect verdict after football fan acquitted of assaulting officer after Walsall match
West Midlands Police said it had taken note of a judge's remarks in the case of a football fan who was slapped by an officer when trouble flared after a Walsall FC match.
Edward Papas, aged 27, was acquitted of assaulting a club steward and Pc Richard Mannox during the incident which happened after Barrow AFC's League Two 1-0 win at Bescot Stadium on March 4 last year.
Following the verdict at Wolverhampton Crown Court the trial judge Jonathan Gosling described the officer's behaviour as "disgraceful" and that his actions and inflammatory language used in front of the away fans had left much to be desired, despite the difficulties of the job.
