A POLICE officer based in South Gloucestershire has been convicted of several offences including intentional suffocation.

PC Mitchell Curtis, 34, was found guilty by jurors of two counts of controlling and coercive behaviour, intentional suffocation and criminal damage.

A five-week trial took place at Gloucester Crown Court. 

He was released on bail and will be sentenced on a date to be confirmed.

The offences occurred in South Gloucestershire and were committed while Curtis was off-duty.

The jury were told Curtis had been physically, emotionally and verbally abusive towards the victim over an 18-month period.

The victim reported what had happened to police in October 2022.

Curtis was arrested the same day and suspended while a criminal investigation was carried out.

Assistant Chief Constable Joanne Hall said: "We would like to publicly recognise the courage the victim has shown in this case, firstly in reporting what an appalling ordeal Curtis had subjected her to but also for supporting the prosecution to enable these guilty verdicts to be achieved.

"His behaviour towards the victim was both abusive and highly manipulative.

"The seriousness of the offences Curtis committed will leave colleagues within policing shocked and appalled and it is right he has been brought to justice for these horrendous crimes.

"A wealth of evidence was collated during our seven-month investigation, and yet despite that he still refused to admit to what he had done.

"No police officer is above the law.

"I hope this outcome reassures any victim of crime that we take these matters incredibly seriously and we will always be perpetrator focussed, no matter who the offender is.

“Misconduct proceedings will now be progressed against Curtis, where we will seek to ensure that he is barred from ever working in policing again.”