Police officer denies assault during arrest at hostel

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

Pc Scott Thorne, of Dorset Police, denied the offence of assault causing actual bodily harm at a hearing at Southampton Crown Court.

The judge, Recorder Donald Tait, set a trial date of March 15 2027 and released the 40-year-old, of Weymouth, on unconditional bail.

He 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 against Thorne followed an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

An IOPC spokesman said previously: “The charge relates to an incident officers responded to at a hostel in Bournemouth on July 30 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.”