A former police officer has been sacked and ordered to complete community service after being caught on camera violently pulling a woman to the ground by her hair in a nightclub. Thomas Odell, 30, was off-duty when he assaulted the woman at Canterbury's Cuban nightclub on February 21.
Margate Magistrates' Court heard that Odell, then a PC with Kent Police, grabbed a fistful of the victim's hair and twice wrenched her head backwards, forcing her towards the floor. Disturbing footage played in court showed Odell smiling and appearing to chuckle during the unprovoked attack. The victim was left in shock and has since reported being too frightened to go into the city without her boyfriend.
According to prosecutor Lucie Fish, the incident occurred around midnight while Odell and a group of male colleagues were socializing with the victim and her friends. Odell reportedly even showed his police badge to the group.
Colleagues described Odell as drunk during the incident. One officer, PC Jamie Hill, told investigators he was stunned by Odell's actions, stating, "It was unprovoked and random to grab the female by the hair and pull her down." He added that Odell was "smiling - it was almost a chuckle, as if to minimise what he had done."
The victim suffered no visible injuries or hair loss but experienced pain and psychological distress. In a statement read to the court, she explained that the attack had eroded her trust in the police.
Odell initially denied the assault but later changed his plea. His defense stated he had drunk more than usual and had no memory of the assault, expressing remorse for losing his career and bringing shame upon himself.
District Judge William Nelson called the assault "entirely unprovoked" and a "deliberate assault," emphasizing the breach of trust and psychological harm caused. The judge noted the risk of serious injury and the erosion of public confidence in the police.
Odell was placed on a 12-month community order with 150 hours of unpaid work and ordered to pay the victim £200 in compensation, payable at £20 per month. He has since been dismissed from Kent Police following an accelerated misconduct hearing.