Police officer denies assaulting man during arrest

A police officer has pleaded not guilty to assaulting a man during an arrest at a hostel.

PC Scott Thorne, of Dorset Police, is accused of assault causing actual bodily harm during the arrest in Bournemouth in July 2024.

At a hearing at Southampton Crown Court, Thorne, 40, from Weymouth, was granted unconditional bail and a trial date was set for 15 March 2027.

Recorder Donald Tait told the defendant: "I apologise for the delay, there has been a delay already - that is the only reasonable date the court can deal with this matter."

The charge followed an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

A previous IOPC statement said: "The charge relates to an incident officers responded to at a hostel in Bournemouth on 30 July 2024 and the force used during the arrest of a man at the hostel.

"The IOPC's investigation began after a mandatory conduct referral was submitted by Dorset Police.

"Once our investigation was completed in August 2025, we sent a file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

"The CPS authorised the charge against the officer in October 2025."