The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is seeking a retrial of the police officer accused of assaulting former footballer Dalian Atkinson.

The previous jury which heard the case against PC Mary Ellen Bettley-Smith, 31, was discharged after failing to come to a verdict.

Bettley-Smith had denied assaulting the former Premier League star.

PC Benjamin Monk was sentenced to eight years in prison after being convicted by a jury at Birmingham Crown Court last week of Mr Atkinson’s manslaughter.

Rosemary Ainslie, CPS head of special crime, said: “The CPS has today informed the court that we will seek a retrial of PC Ellen Bettley-Smith for an assault on Dalian Atkinson occasioning actual bodily harm.

“We remind everyone that criminal proceedings are active and that Ms Bettley-Smith has a right to a fair trial.

“It is extremely important there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”

Mr Atkinson died aged 48 after police were called to his father’s address in Telford, Shropshire, in August 2016.

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