Police pair are jailed for 'torture' of girl, 19
TWO policemen who inflicted “deliberate cruelty” on a young woman were each jailed for 18 months yesterday.
PC Jason Hanvey, 37, and Sgt Andrew Kennedy, 51, were said to have shown “appalling and inexcusable conduct” in the brutal treatment of 19-year-old Amy Keigher.
CCTV footage from a police station’s custody suite showed Hanvey press her face down on a desk as he screamed: “Move and I’ll rip your f*****g skull off!”
He also grabbed her hair, pulled her handcuffed arms over her head for more than a minute and, as he held her in a “cruel position”, asked her to say “pretty please” to be released.
Kennedy, senior desk officer at Manchester’s Collyhurst police station, stood by and showed “complete indifference” as he failed to intervene.
Sentencing them at Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester, Judge Anthony Gee said: “It was little short of torture.”
Both men were convicted by a jury last month of misconduct in a public office following a three-week trial.
Miss Keigher was taken to the station in October 2008 when she was arrested following an incident in Manchester city centre.
What followed next was “outright thuggery” said the judge.
Hanvey taunted her that he earned £33,000 a year while she was on benefits. And when she accused police of being “pathetic” he punished her for her “impertinence”.
The judge said while Hanvey was the principal offender he regarded Kennedy’s culpability and blameworthiness as “just as high”.
The incident came to light when Miss Keigher complained about her treatment and a CCTV tape was reviewed.
Following their convictions, Hanvey resigned from the police and Kennedy retired.
Defence lawyer Tim Storrie said the effect of the case on the men’s families was “catastrophic”. Hanvey will lose £895,000 in retirement and lump sum benefits and Kennedy £300,000.
