Shocking footage has landed two cops in the dock after a violent attack on a 92-year-old wheelchair-bound man in a care home in St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex.
Donald Burgess, suffering from multiple health conditions and having just one leg, was pepper-sprayed, beaten with a baton, and tasered—while helpless in his chair, crying out in agony.
83 Seconds from Calm to Chaos
On June 21, 2022, officers PC Stephen Smith, 51, and PC Rachel Comotto stormed into the care home after staff called 999. They were responding because Mr Burgess refused to hand over a knife-like utensil.
Within just 83 seconds, PC Smith sprayed almost an entire can of Pava pepper spray into the elderly man’s face, then struck him with a baton. PC Comotto fired her Taser moments later, sending Mr Burgess screaming in pain.
Jurors heard the officers ignored care staff advice and failed to assess Mr Burgess’s limited mobility and fragile health before launching their brutal assault.
Vulnerable and Confused
Though not diagnosed with dementia, Mr Burgess was battling a urinary tract infection—known to cause confusion and disorientation in the elderly. The ‘knife’ he held was actually a specially adapted butter knife handle, and staff had spent half an hour trying to calm things down before calling the police.
Mr Burgess was rushed to hospital after the attack, where he later caught Covid-19 and died 22 days after the incident. The court confirmed the officers face no charges linked to his death.
Cops Deny Assault Charges
- PC Stephen Smith denies two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm related to the pepper spray and baton attack.
- PC Rachel Comotto denies assault over her use of the Taser.
Prosecutor Paul Jarvis KC slammed the force used as “unjustified and unlawful,” arguing Mr Burgess posed no immediate threat.
“Rather than being met with understanding and sympathy, he was confronted by irritation and annoyance,”
he said.
The trial is ongoing at Southwark Crown Court.
