Shropshire Star

I attacked MP Mark Pritchard, admits Telford police officer

A long-serving Telford detective has been cautioned after assaulting Wrekin MP Mark Pritchard in a pub toilet.

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A long-serving Telford detective has been cautioned after assaulting Wrekin MP Mark Pritchard in a pub toilet.

Detective Sergeant Graham Cooper, aged 51, was cautioned by officers after admitting assaulting the 44-year-old Conservative MP at the Huntsman pub in Little Wenlock in May.

The caution means Cooper admits guilt for the assault and will receive a criminal record for it. But he will not now face court action and remains on duty.

The detective, who is based at Telford police station and has more than 20 years service, had been due to appear before Redditch magistrates charged with common assault later this week.

Cooper, from the Telford area, is alleged to have put his hand in the Conservative MP's face and shoved him against a wall in the toilets at The Huntsman on May 31.

Toby Shergold, spokes-man for West Mercia Police, said: "We can confirm that Detective Sergeant Graham Cooper has received a caution for common assault in Little Wenlock on May 31 this year.

"He has not been suspended but there is an on-going misconduct process as a result of this incident."

This afternoon Mr Pritchard said he would continue to speak out against any misconduct by police.

Mr Pritchard said: "This assault has made me more, not less, resilient to speak up on behalf of my constituents and against police misconduct.

"I will also continue to fully support fundamental reforms to the police service. The police need to rediscover they police by consent not by might; that they need the public's trust to do their job effectively; and that all officers are subject to the same law as everyone else."

In July 2003 DS Cooper received an official accolade for being a community hero and was commended for an investigation into a Telford paedophile ring.

By Jason Lavan

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