A police officer has been cleared of assaulting former footballer Dalian Atkinson before he died.

PC Mary Ellen Bettley-Smith had been facing a retrial at Birmingham Crown Court over an allegation she struck the former Aston Villa, Sheffield Wednesday and Ipswich Town star prior to his death in Telford in 2016.

The jury deliberated for three hours and two minutes before acquitting the officer, who struck Mr Atkinson three times with a baton after he was tasered to the ground by PC Benjamin Monk, who was jailed last year for manslaughter.

Jurors were unable to reach a verdict on the assault charge at the officer’s original trial last year, but convicted Monk.

The 43-year-old was jailed for eight years in July 2021 after forensic evidence proved he had kicked Mr Atkinson at least twice in the head, after tasering him to the ground.

Ms Bettley-Smith and Monk, who were in a relationship at the time, had been sent to the scene to restrain Mr Atkinson after his mental state became disturbed, probably due to a build-up of toxins linked to renal failure.

Prosecutors alleged Ms Bettley-Smith lost her cool and “pummelled” a “defenceless” Mr Atkinson with a baton, causing actual bodily harm which they accepted did not contribute to his death.

Metropolitan Police officer charged with rape

Shropshire earthquake: 3.8 magnitude quake hits UK near Shrewsbury

NHS compensation scheme ‘not fit for purpose’ and reform is long overdue, new study shows

The retired footballer lost consciousness shortly after being tasered near his childhood home in Meadow Close, Trench, and died in hospital about an hour later.

In her evidence to the court, Ms Bettley-Smith said she had used the baton because she perceived Mr Atkinson still posed a threat of “serious harm” after he was tasered for a third time.

Ms Bettley-Smith told her trial she was left “shaking from head to toe” and was sure she would have come to serious harm if Mr Atkinson had managed to get to his feet.

The 32-year-old told the jury she had used her baton lawfully as a last resort as she desperately tried to control Mr Atkinson, who she said was “actively resisting and trying to get up”.

Ms Bettley-Smith, a social work graduate, said that being told of Mr Atkinson’s death had left her feeling overwhelmed and that the feelings had not got any easier during the past six years.

“I live it every day,” she said.

Related posts:

Eighteen people rescued from refrigerated lorry at service station Concerts, Euro 2020 and other large gatherings in June – how can big events go ahead? COVID infection levels rise among secondary school children in England Parents pay tribute to ‘little angel’ killed in early morning Lancashire blast French fishermen threaten to block exports to UK in run-up to Christmas as tensions rise over fishing rights Footballer ‘could have been blinded’ after firework explodes on pitch Wild swimming spots could improve ‘shocking water quality’ in rivers if they win bathing status Teenage boy, 13, found dead in River Taff after huge search operation Traces of polio virus found in London sewage as health officials declare national incident How much are public sector workers paid – and how do recent pay deals compare to what striking rail staff want? Doctors can lawfully stop life-support for brain-damaged Archie Battersbee, judges rule Man riding e-scooter killed after collision with car in London