Avon & Somerset police officer suffocated victim during period of abuse

An Avon and Somerset Police officer has been found guilty of several offences including intentional suffocation. PC Mitchell Curtis, 34, carried out the offences while off-duty in South Gloucestershire over an 18-month period.

He was reported by the victim in October 2022 and arrested on the same day. Police said he was also suspended from duty while a criminal investigation was carried out.

Jurors at Gloucester Crown Court found Curtis guilty of two counts of controlling and coercive behaviour, intentional suffocation and criminal damage following a five-week trial. They were told he had been physically, emotionally and verbally abusive towards the victim.

Curtis was released on bail and will be sentenced at a later date. Police said their Professional Standards Department has carried out a parallel investigation into his alleged crimes.

Assistant Chief Constable Joanne Hall said: “We would like to publicly recognise the courage the victim has shown in this case, firstly in reporting what an appalling ordeal Curtis had subjected her to but also for supporting the prosecution to enable these guilty verdicts to be achieved. His behaviour towards the victim was both abusive and highly manipulative.

“The seriousness of the offences Curtis committed will leave colleagues within policing shocked and appalled and it is right he has been brought to justice for these horrendous crimes. A wealth of evidence was collated during our seven-month investigation, and yet despite that he still refused to admit to what he had done.

“No police officer is above the law. I hope this outcome reassures any victim of crime that we take these matters incredibly seriously and we will always be perpetrator focussed, no matter who the offender is. Misconduct proceedings will now be progressed against Curtis, where we will seek to ensure that he is barred from ever working in policing again.”