Police used “unreasonable and inappropriate” force when they Tasered a Wythenshawe man who had autism according to a High Court judge.
Fifty nine year old Michael Gilchrist was shocked eight times over 72 seconds by PC Samuel Schofield.
Gilchrist,who also suffered from bipolar disorder, was tasered after police were called to his home in June 2014 after a neighbour saw him in the street, covered in blood.
Two GMP officers said on arrival he appeared “aggressive”. CS spray was used twice, and PC Mark Farrell then used his Taser, with no effect.
PC Schofield arrived and discharged his Taser, delivering the seventh shock in the drive-stun mode, when the Taser is pressed against the body.
In a High Court judgment, Mrs Justice O’Farrell said: “PC Schofield’s use of Taser was not justified and the extent of the force used, namely eight cycles for a cumulative period of 72 seconds, was not justified.
His mother Novlyn Graham claimed Greater Manchester Police (GMP) officers “did not see beyond the colour of Michael’s skin”.
