Scots cop faces sack after man left sobbing with genitals exposed during arrest

Kevin McFarlane's own colleagues testified against him after he became enraged and dragged the man from the back of a police van in June 2023.

A police sergeant once rewarded for bravery faces the sack after leaving a man crying and exposed during an arrest.

Kevin McFarlane dragged John Kerr from a police van causing his trousers to fall down.

The angry officer then left Kerr in this state for a number of minutes even after he was bundled back into the vehicle.

McFarlane shouted towards him at one stage: "You are acting like a f***ing idiot."

The 41 year-old has now been convicted of assault at Glasgow Sheriff Court after his own colleagues testified against him.

One was said to have been left in tears herself by his actions.

Police had been called to reports of a domestic incident in Glasgow's Carntyne on June 10, 2023.

McFarlane initially detained Kerr before handing him over to colleagues who arrested him and put him in their van.

Kerr refused to give his full personal details, but was described as carrying "no threat".

McFarlane's demeanour was then said to have changed "like the flick of a switch".

PC Holly Warrender told the trial: "Sergeant McFarlane opened the door of the cage (to the van) and grabbed Mr Kerr by the legs - his shoes came off.

"He then reached in again and grabbed him by the lower body. He pulled him out the van on to the ground."

"His trousers came partly down - this resulted in his genitals and buttocks being exposed."

The court heard Kerr was sobbing as he lay on the ground.

He was yanked up by McFarlane and pushed back into the van. It was only around five minutes later that his trousers were pulled back up.

Asked by fiscal Darren Harty to describe the force used by her colleague, PC Warrender said: "There was no need to begin with.

"It was a very unpleasant experience - it has been upsetting and stressful."

PC Rebecca Ferns stated in her evidence that she was "sick" and "in shock" at McFarlane's "disproportionate" actions.

She added: "I have never experienced behaviour like it be it from a sergeant or police officer."

PC Claire Murray said she had also been left concerned and even "cried" at what happened.

McFarlane told a fellow sergeant who turned up at the scene that Kerr had been "cheeky".

In his evidence, McFarlane said he removed Kerr from the van as "a duty of care" after he had hit his head while in the vehicle.

He stated: "From the perception that I had, it was necessary the way that I acted - it was the perception of risk."

But, Sheriff Bernard Ablett convicted him of assault and fined him £750.

He said: "I find that Mr McFarlane's actions were deliberate and in anger because Mr Kerr did not provide his details.

He directed violence to force him to provide his details.

"This was a momentary loss of control - you saw red mist in the circumstances where Mr Kerr was acting in a defiant manner.

"This caused you to behave in the way that you did."

McFarlane could now face the end of his 21-year career in the force.

He had previously received a commendation for bravery for tackling a knife attacker.

The officer had also been handed two divisional certificate of excellence awards and was in line to be promoted to inspector.

His lawyer Callum Anderson told Sheriff Ablett that the officer had been affected by "stress and anxiety" at the time due to personal issues.