A Custody Sergeant with Wiltshire Police who was filmed on CCTV throwing a woman head first onto the concrete floor of a cell has been dismissed.

Mark Andrews, a former soldier, was sacked “with immediate effect” following a conduct hearing made up of senior officers from both inside and outside the Force.

The decision comes despite his successful appeal against an ABH conviction at Oxford Crown Court last month. The presiding judge was satisfied the officer had not intended to injure Pamela Somerville, who required stitches for a cut following the incident at Melksham Police Station.

Having been prosecuted, Andrews was handed a six month prison term by a district judge and spent six days in prison before being released pending his appeal hearing.

While respecting the appeal decision, Wiltshire Assistant Chief Pat Geenty said the internal hearing aimed to establish if there had been Police conduct breaches.

Ms Somerville (69) had been detained for failing to provide a specimen of breath after being found asleep in her car. Both trial judges had found that she was lawfully arrested and detained although she was not prosecuted.

ACC Geenty added: “The hearing has reached a decision that Sgt Andrews should be dismissed from the Force and this will take place with immediate effect.

“We have always accepted that Pamela Somerville was injured while in our care and I want to apologise again for the way she was treated in our care.”

ACC Geenty said the incident involving Andrews had first been reported by another police officer who had acted in “the highest traditions” of the Service.

He added: “There can be no greater responsibility than the care of people in our custody regardless of the reason for that custody and considerable effort and importance is placed on ensuring that processes, systems, training, and staff attitude is directed towards facing up to that responsibility.

“As part of a wider national inspection programme the Force has undergone four independent inspections, two by the NPIA, one in respect of mentally disordered offenders and one by HMIC and the Prisons Inspectorate.

“The latter inspection involved 13 Inspectors arriving unannounced and spending four days with the Force. They produced a favourable report highlighting national best practice and concluding interaction with detainees was respectful.”

But ACC Geenty concluded: “We are not complacent and welcome the fact that Wiltshire Police Authority has commenced its own independent review of our custody practices.”