A Cleveland Police officer has had his conviction for assaulting his ex-partner quashed.
Kaljit Sander appealed against his conviction and following a two-day appeal hearing, was acquitted of the crime at Newcastle Crown Court.
He was initially found guilty after a trial at North Tyneside Magistrates’ Court in August, and in October, he was given a 16-week suspended sentence at Newcastle Magistrates’ Court.
The 33-year-old has maintained his innocence throughout and launched the appeal in a bid to clear his name.
Cleveland Police previously stated after he was convicted that Mr Sander was not “currently working” and an internal inquiry had been launched.
The decision to quash the conviction was made by Recorder Richard Gioserano and two magistrates on Friday. They listened to evidence including live evidence from the complainant and Mr Sander.
Mr Gioserano said that the appeal was allowed as he and the two magistrates were unanimous in the decision that they were unable to be sure of the complainants’s account.
The 26-year-old complainant alleged that Mr Sander attacked her at her home in January this year with blows to the face after she told him she had slept with another man.
However, Richard Herrmann representing Mr Sander, told the court that there were inconsistencies in her accounts in her police statements and evidence in court. He also said that her version of events did not tally with the lack of injuries she received as a result of the alleged incident. She told the court she had bruising to her face and a cut lip, which she said may not have been caused by Mr Sander.
She said she later suffered muscle damage in her neck.
Mr Sander, from Tudhoe Colliery, County Durham, suffered a bite mark to the face in the incident – the complainant admits biting him, but said it was to defend herself. He also had scratches on his face and three lumps on his head.
Mr Sander, who has no previous convictions, rang the police on the evening and when they arrived, they took statements from both parties before he was arrested.
The court heard in a statement from the officer who arrested him that Mr Sander remained calm but said he was not happy with the decision and thought if he was being arrested, the complainant should too.
When Mr Sander was sentenced in October, as well as the suspended sentence, he also received a two-year restraining order preventing him from contacting his victim.
He was ordered to pay £500 court costs, £250 compensation and £80 victim surcharge, which his solicitor said are now quashed.
Until recently, Mr Sander was listed on the Police.UK website as part of the local policing team for Linthorpe, Middlesbrough, but his name has now been removed
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