Police officer who broke his PC wife's back is sacked

A police officer who broke his PC wife's back by kicking her down the stairs during an argument has been sacked and barred from policing.

Huw Orphan, 31, 'kicked' Amy Burley as they argued while climbing the stairs at their family home after a night shift and she fell down, breaking her back in April 2020.

Orphan, from Barry, South Wales, told the court he was trying to 'jump' out of his wife's way as she tried to 'swipe or grab' at his leg and he made contact with her.

The PC also grabbed her by the wrists and pinned her to the floor on an earlier occasion causing her bruising. 

He denied threatening his wife that she would not see her children if she did not say the right things to doctors about how her back was injured.

Orphan was found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm and actual bodily harm following a five-day trial.

He was banned from ever working in the police again after a disciplinary hearing by Gwent police, but resigned hours before the hearing when he would have been sacked.

Ms Burley told the court the couple had met in late 2017 when they were both working for Gwent Police and married and moved in together two years later.

But Ms Burley - already a mother of two - said their relationship deteriorated after the premature birth of their child in December that year and they fought over 'petty' or 'trivial' matters.

She said her ex-husband grabbed her by the wrists and forced her to the floor after they argued about him not sterilising a baby's bottle, saying 'he just wanted to hurt me.'

The court heard that on January 25, he barged his way into his home and tackled his wife, resulting in her hitting her head. 

On April 8, Orphan committed the second assault, kicking his wife down a set of stairs.

The couple had a five month old baby at the time - and rowed when Orphan returned from a shift at 1am.

Ms Burley was following Orphan up the stairs in the home when the Gwent Police officer 'back-kicked' her and she fell down.

Orphan told the court he was trying to 'jump' out of his wife's way as she tried to 'swipe or grab' at his leg and he made contact with her.

Cardiff Crown Court heard she fell and broke a bone in her back and was given a brace to wear by medics.

The court heard that a month following the stairs attack the couple had split up and Ms Burley contacted police chiefs asking for advice on how to make a complaint against her husband.

Ms Burley said her injuries had a lasting effect on her. 'I'm still in a lot of pain,' she said. 'I can't run around after my children, go into a soft play centre or kick a ball with them.'

Orphan was found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm and actual bodily harm following a five day trial.

Judge, Recorder of Cardiff Tracy Lloyd-Clarke adjourned the case for pre-sentence reports. Orphan, of Barry, South Wales, will return to court for sentence on October 25.

But he was banned from ever working in the police again after a disciplinary hearing by Gwent police. 

Assistant Chief Constable Mark Hobrough said he was 'appalled and disgusted.'

Mr Hobrough said: 'Our community deserve the best and I'm not prepared to accept this level of behaviour.'

'Domestic abuse offences are among the most serious that police officers investigate.

'I know this will have an impact on the trust of victims to report these extremely serious offences to us and I would like you to know that we are

committed to bringing offenders to justice and safeguarding victims.

'There is no place in Gwent Police or our communities for perpetrators of abuse.'