‘PC handcuffed me in crucifix pose and Sellotaped my face’

A WOMAN has told a court she was left terrified when a police officer handcuffed her to a window in a “crucifix position” and wrapped Sellotape around her forehead, eyes and nose.

Arlene Pattie said PC George Stewart launched the attack in the office of East Port House bail hostel, Dundee, where she works.

Stewart and fellow officer Shirley Tindal are standing trial accused of assaulting Mrs Pattie.

She told Dundee Sheriff Court yesterday that she was on duty at the hostel in King Street on 20 July last year when they were told police were to attend to arrest a resident after a warrant had been granted by a court.

Mrs Pattie said Stewart and Tindal arrived earlier than expected and told them which resident they were to arrest.

She said she then told Stewart that the resident had been complimentary of him after the woman had made an allegation of a sexual assault that was dealt with by him.

Mrs Pattie said Stewart then replied: “Are you checking up on me?”

She said seconds later he grabbed her wrist and handcuffed her, before attaching that handcuff to a window overlooking the busy street.

She said he then asked Tindal: “Let me see your cuffs.”

Mrs Pattie said Stewart then returned and grabbed her other arm, and claimed he twisted it up her back before cuffing it to the other side of the window. She said she had been placed in a “crucifix” position, with her hands above her head.

Mrs Pattie added: “I was absolutely petrified at that time. He had twisted my arms round and it was sore – and I had had lung surgery not long before.

“He was sitting on the desk playing with the roll of tape. He then started rolling it round my head. It was down over my nose – that was what frightened me the most. The tape came to the top of my lip. I was completely humiliated.”

Advocate Susan Duff, defending Stewart, asked Mrs Pattie if she had been “flirting” with him.

She asked: “Isn’t it the case that what took place in that office was just a carry-on between two consenting adults?”

Visibly upset, Mrs Pattie replied: “That is so untrue. I vomited and became hysterical when they left. When the tape was around my face I made it very obvious that I was distressed.”

The court was shown pictures of Mrs Pattie’s wrists following the alleged attack, which appeared to show indentations, apparently caused by the cuffs.

Susan Duff, defending, asked if Mrs Pattie had been “consenting” to Stewart handcuffing her and taping her.

She replied: “I would never allow myself to be handcuffed and taped up in such a way.”

Stewart, 35, and Tindal, 39, whose addresses were given as care of Tayside Police HQ in Dundee, deny assaulting Mrs Pattie. The trial continues.