Police officer convicted of coercive behaviour

A police officer has been convicted of several offences, including controlling and coercive behaviour, following a five-week trial.

Former Avon and Somerset PC Mitchell Curtis, 34, was found guilty by jurors of two counts of controlling and coercive behaviour, intentional suffocation, and criminal damage.

Following the trial at Gloucester Crown Court, Mitchell was released on bail and will be sentenced on a date to be confirmed.

Assistant Chief Constable Joanne Hall said Curtis' behaviour towards his victim "was both abusive and highly manipulative".

The offences occurred in South Gloucestershire and were committed while Curtis was off-duty.

They jury were told Curtis had been physically, emotionally and verbally abusive towards the victim over an 18-month period.

The victim reported Curtis to the police in October 2022.

Curtis was arrested on the same day and suspended while a criminal investigation was carried out.

Avon and Somerset Police said its professional standards department carried out a parallel investigation into Curtis.

"Due to the seriousness of his offences, the criminal trial has taken primacy, and misconduct proceedings will now follow", the force said.

ACC Hall publicly commended the courage shown by Curtis' victim.

"Firstly in reporting what an appalling ordeal Curtis had subjected her to but also for supporting the prosecution to enable these guilty verdicts to be achieved," she said.

"The seriousness of the offences Curtis committed will leave colleagues within policing shocked and appalled and it is right he has been brought to justice for these horrendous crimes."

ACC Hall said "a wealth of evidence" was collated during the forces investigation, which spanned months, yet Curtis "still refused to admit to what he had done".

"No police officer is above the law," she added.

"I hope this outcome reassures any victim of crime that we take these matters incredibly seriously and we will always be perpetrator focussed, no matter who the offender is.

"Misconduct proceedings will now be progressed against Curtis, where we will seek to ensure that he is barred from ever working in policing again."

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