POLICE officers who locked up a woman involved in a car crash and forced her to wear handcuffs for more than three hours were told in the Magistrate’s Court that their behaviour had been ‘disgraceful’

Acting Magistrate Richard Falle said that Samantha Jane Vibert (39) had been ‘humiliated’ by the experience. ‘The court is concerned that she was manacled in rigid handcuffs,’ he said. ‘This is a lady who was clearly distressed at what had happened on the road. The applying of handcuffs demonstrated a serious lack of judgment by the police officer.

That they were left in place with all the discomfort, humiliation and degradation while samples were taken represents a wholly disgraceful and unacceptable way of going about things on the behalf of the police.’

Vibert, of Route de la Trinité, was arrested following a car accident on Pier Road on 26 June and charged with driving without due care and attention. She was also charged with driving while her licence was expired and failing to provide her insurance details.

She admitted all three offences. She was bound over for one month for the driving licence offence and given two absolute discharges on the other charges. ‘You have already been punished enough,’ said Mr Falle.