Off-duty police officer beat up kebab shop workers because they didn't give him enough salad

An off-duty policeman assaulted two kebab-shop workers following a row over salad on his late night snack. PC Andrew Evans had been out drinking, in Cinderford, in the Forest of Dean, when he flew into a rage at a takeaway in the town in July. The 32-year-old, of St Swithins Road, Oldcroft, Lydney, who has since resigned his post with Gloucestershire Police, pushed a worker at the takeaway as he stormed behind the counter.

And the officer then punched the manager, knocking him to the floor, leaving him with a cut to his head as he struck the counter on the way down. Evans was suspended from duty because of other issues when he went out on the town on Sunday, July 24, a judge at Swindon Crown Court was told this week. He admitted actual bodily harm and common assault.



Kerry Barker, prosecuting, said CCTV showed the manager decked by a 'backhand punch'. Chris Smyth, defending, said his client's eight-year career was in tatters as a result of other matters as well as the incident. He said his marriage was over and his marital home was being repossessed. "This night he had been drinking more than he might normally," Mr Smyth said.

"He was questioning the absence of salad on his kebab: what a banal thing to start this. Initially they thought he was joking about the lack of salad. He has pleaded guilty and has attempted to put this awful thing behind him." He was bailed until January 19 when he will be sentenced.