Wiltshire police officer who assaulted 13-year-old boy avoids jail

A Wiltshire police officer has been given a suspended prison sentence after admitting assaulting a 13-year-old boy who had gone to police seeking help.

PC Daniel Rusling was sentenced at Bristol Magistrates' Court after pleading guilty to one count of assault by beating. He received an eight-week prison sentence, suspended for two months, and will now face gross misconduct proceedings with Wiltshire Police.

The incident took place in the early hours of 14 October 2025 at Monkton Park Police Station in Chippenham. The boy was part of a group of six children who had called 999 after reporting they had been threatened by people in a car.

Body-worn camera footage showed the boy standing in front of Rusling's police vehicle asking for a lift home. The officer repeatedly swore at the child, pushed him several times with both hands and challenged him by saying, "Come on then, you wanna go?" as he forced the boy towards the exit of the police station car park.

Although the child was not physically injured, the incident was referred by Wiltshire Police to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which launched an independent investigation.

The IOPC said the officer's behaviour was "totally inappropriate" and criticised his failure to de-escalate the situation. Officials said that while moving the child away from the vehicle was initially justified, the officer's subsequent actions were disproportionate and unacceptable.

Wiltshire Police Deputy Chief Constable Mark Cooper described Rusling's behaviour as criminal and said it did not reflect the standards expected of the force. He said the officer had failed in his duty to protect a vulnerable young person and instead used unnecessary violence and abusive language.

The force confirmed that PC Rusling is now subject to a gross misconduct process, which could result in his dismissal from Wiltshire Police.

The case has renewed calls for high standards of conduct within policing, with the IOPC stressing that officers must always treat members of the public particularly children and vulnerable people with professionalism, restraint and respect.