Officers who Tasered amputee Donald Burgess, 92, found to have used excessive force and dismissed
A misconduct panel found PCs Stephen Smith and Rachel Comotto used unjustified, excessive force on 92-year-old care home resident Donald Burgess in 2022. Later reports say they were dismissed without notice.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2A disciplinary panel found that Sussex Police officers PC Stephen Smith and PC Rachel Comotto committed gross misconduct when they used force on Donald Burgess, a 92-year-old amputee with dementia, at a care home. BBC NewsN “a panel decided there was "unjustified and excessive use of force" and gross misconduct had been proven for both officers.” Read at BBC News ↗ Daily MirrorL “dismissed without notice for gross misconduct after using a Taser, PAVA spray and a baton on Donald Burgess” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ Mixed · 2The officers were called to Park Beck care home in St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex, on 21 June 2022 after reports that a resident had a knife and was threatening to stab staff. Daily MirrorL “following reports that a resident had a knife and was threatening to stab staff.” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ BBC NewsN “had been called to Park Beck care home in St Leonards-on-Sea after resident Donald Burgess threatened carers with a dinner knife.” Read at BBC News ↗ Mixed · 2Body-worn footage showed Burgess, a wheelchair user with an amputated leg, isolated in his room holding a cutlery knife; within 90 seconds of arriving, Smith sprayed PAVA in his face and struck the knife arm with a baton, and Comotto then discharged her Taser. Daily MirrorL “Within 90 seconds of the officers arriving, PC Smith sprayed PAVA in Mr Burgess’s face and struck the arm holding the knife with a baton. PC Comotto then discharged her Taser.” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ Daily ExpressR “Pc Comotto then discharged her Taser.” Read at Daily Express ↗
Centre · 1The panel found that neither officer tried to de-escalate; Smith "made no attempt to assess or understand" Burgess's vulnerability and his tone was "dismissive", while Comotto "showed no compassion" and was "antagonistic". BBC NewsN “The panel found Smith "made no attempt to assess or understand" Burgess's vulnerability, while Comotto "showed no compassion".”“The misconduct panel found Comotto and Smith did not attempt to de-escalate the situation before using force” Read at BBC News ↗ Centre · 1Assistant Chief Constable Peter Gardner said Burgess was in his own room, isolated from other residents and posed no risk, and that more information should have been sought from care home staff. BBC NewsN “Assistant Chief Constable Peter Gardner said Burgess was in his own room, isolated from residents and posed no risk.” Read at BBC News ↗ Centre · 1Force lawyer Aaron Rathmell told the hearing the officers "acted, hastily, harshly and lost control", and that Smith drew his pepper spray within nine seconds of entering the room. BBC NewsN “Smith, 52, and Comotto, 37, "acted, hastily, harshly and lost control".”“He said Smith had drawn the pepper spray within nine seconds of entering Burgess's room.” Read at BBC News ↗
Mixed · 2Reports published later on Tuesday, citing the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), said both officers were dismissed without notice and will go on the police barred list; the BBC's earlier report said the panel had yet to decide between dismissal and a final written warning. Daily ExpressR “were dismissed without notice on Tuesday, the IOPC said.”“They will also be put on the police barred list.” Read at Daily Express ↗ BBC NewsN “It is yet to be decided whether they will be dismissed from the force or given a final written warning.” Read at BBC News ↗ Mixed · 2Both officers were acquitted of assault occasioning actual bodily harm at a trial in May 2025. BBC NewsN “who were both acquitted of assault occasioning actual bodily harm in May 2025” Read at BBC News ↗ Daily ExpressR “The two were cleared of assault in a trial in May 2025” Read at Daily Express ↗ Mixed · 2Burgess was taken to hospital, contracted Covid and died 22 days later; the officers were not held responsible for his death, and a pathologist found their actions did not cause or contribute to it. BBC NewsN “Burgess was taken to hospital after the incident, where he contracted Covid and died 22 days later, but the officers were not held responsible for his death.” Read at BBC News ↗ Daily MirrorL “a pathologist found the officers’ actions did not cause or contribute to his death.” Read at Daily Mirror ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- Breaking-news report leading with the sacking and the weapons used on a 92-year-old amputee.
- Emphasis
- Sequence of force within 90 seconds; pathologist finding on death.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Panel's criticisms of the officers' conduct and tone.
- Charged language
- “sacked”
- For example
-
“Two Sussex Police officers who Tasered a 92-year-old amputee at a care home have been sacked for using “excessive force”.” — Daily Mirror
Centre2 outlets
- Framing
- Detailed hearing report on the panel's findings of gross misconduct.
- Emphasis
- Panel's criticism of failure to de-escalate, tone and vulnerability; sanction not yet decided at time of writing.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Dismissal, which came later.
- Charged language
- “lost control”
- For example
-
“The misconduct panel found Comotto and Smith did not attempt to de-escalate the situation before using force” — BBC News
Right3 outlets
- Framing
- Short reports leading with the sacking and the IOPC; Express stresses the victim's fear and dementia.
- Emphasis
- Victim's vulnerability, IOPC confirmation, barred list.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Panel's detailed findings on de-escalation; the death and cause.
- Charged language
- “Major update”“petrified”“one-legged dementia sufferer”“raced”
- For example
-
“The 92-year-old said "I'm dying" as he was left petrified during the ordeal.” — Daily Express
“have lost their jobs, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) confirmed.” — GB News
What every side reports
- PCs Stephen Smith and Comotto used force on Donald Burgess, 92, at a St Leonards care home on 21 June 2022
- The panel found gross misconduct and excessive force
- Burgess was holding a knife and was an amputee in a wheelchair
- The officers were cleared of assault in May 2025
Where accounts differ
-
Whether the officers had been dismissed
- Left
- Mirror reports they were sacked, dismissed without notice.
- Centre
- BBC's earlier report said it was yet to be decided whether they would be dismissed or given a final written warning.
- Right
- Express and GB News report they were sacked/lost their jobs, citing the IOPC.
-
Description of Burgess's behaviour
- Left
- Mirror says a report said he threatened to stab staff and held a cutlery knife.
- Centre
- BBC says he threatened carers with a dinner knife and refused repeated requests to drop it.
- Right
- GB News says he flicked food at a worker and refused to put down a 'dull blade'; Express says he held a cutlery knife.
-
A disciplinary panel found the two officers committed gross misconduct through excessive force on Donald Burgess.
Supported- Supports 4
- Daily Mirror, BBC News, Daily Express, GB News
-
The two officers have been dismissed without notice.
Supported- Supports 3
- Daily Mirror, Daily Express, GB News
- Reports 1
- BBC News
Sussex Police organisation
Through Assistant Chief Constable Peter Gardner, said Burgess posed no risk in his isolated room and more information should have been gathered from staff.
“Assistant Chief Constable Peter Gardner said Burgess was in his own room, isolated from residents and posed no risk.” — BBC News
Independent Office for Police Conduct organisation
Cited as saying the officers used excessive force, were dismissed without notice and will be barred from policing.
“were dismissed without notice on Tuesday, the IOPC said.” — Daily Express
Donald Burgess person
Burgess, who had dementia, was Tasered in his wheelchair; he died 22 days later, though officers were not held responsible.
“Burgess, who had dementia, was hit with a baton, pepper sprayed and Tasered as he sat in his wheelchair in his bedroom in June 2022.” — BBC News
Left1 article
-
Sussex Police officers who Tasered 92-year-old amputee at care home are sacked
Critical Breaking-news report on the sacking and the force used.
Centre2 articles
-
PCs who Tasered amputee, 92, used excessive force
Neutral Detailed account of the panel's findings and testimony.
-
Right3 articles
-
Major update after one-legged dementia sufferer, 92, tasered by police
Sympathetic Brief sacking report stressing the victim's fear and vulnerability.
-
GB NewsR ·
Police officers who tasered amputee pensioner, 92, sacked for using excessive force
Critical Short report on the sacking, describing the officers as having 'raced' to the home.
-
- 6 Oct 13:47 First BBC NewsN PCs who Tasered amputee, 92, used excessive force
- 6 Oct 15:33 +1h 45m Daily ExpressR Major update after one-legged dementia sufferer, 92, tasered by police
- 6 Oct 15:33 +1h 46m GB NewsR Police officers who tasered amputee pensioner, 92, sacked for using excessive force
- 6 Oct 15:35 +1h 48m Daily MirrorL Sussex Police officers who Tasered 92-year-old amputee at care home are sacked
- 6 Oct 15:43 +1h 56m Daily MailR Two police officers who Tasered and pepper-sprayed disabled pensioner, 92, in care home are sacked for using 'excessive force'
- 6 Oct 16:45 +2h 58m Evening StandardN Two police officers who used a Taser and baton on 92-year-old amputee sacked
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.