Warrington police officer cleared of assaulting elderly deaf man

Summarised from Liverpool Echo's report · Updated 6 Nov, 08:11 · Archive

A Warrington police officer has been cleared of assaulting an 80-year-old deaf man in a custody suite.

PC Benjamin Betts, 24, was cleared of assault following an incident at the North Cheshire Custody Facility in Runcorn on 8 December 2025. Ronald Jarvis, 80, who was deaf and did not have his hearing aid, had been arrested on suspicion of drink driving. At around 4.30am, Mr Jarvis began shouting for help from his cell. When detention officer Gaynor Tindall opened the door, he attempted to walk out, and a brief struggle ensued.

CCTV footage played at Sefton Magistrates Court on 5 November showed the incident. After Mrs Tindall tried to prevent Mr Jarvis leaving the cell, Betts entered and pushed the elderly man into the wall before pushing him to the floor. Betts said he acted in self-defence and in defence of a fellow officer.

Read the report

• Warrington police officer cleared of assaulting 80-year-old deaf man in custody suitePC Betts said he acted in self defence and defence of a fellow officerLiverpool Echo · 6 Nov, 07:28

In this story: Benjamin Betts · Ronald Jarvis · Gaynor Tindall · Warrington · Runcorn · North Cheshire Custody Facility · Sefton Magistrates Court

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