Woman suffers miscarriage after she was Tasered by police during row with her boyfriend, court hears

Mum-to-be Leanne Perrett, 35, was three months pregnant when an officer fired his stun gun at her during a the row between her and her partner Kyle Butts in Barry, South Wales

A pregnant woman lost her baby days after she was tasered by police during a heated public bust-up with her boyfriend, a court heard.

Mother-to-be Leanne Perrett, 35, was three months pregnant when an officer fired his stun gun at her during a row between her and partner Kyle Butts in Barry, South Wales.

Video of the incident shows the officer deploying the taser on the 35-year-old – who is seen landing face-first on the road.

In a court hearing, lawyers for Perrett, who was later charged with assaulting an emergency worker, said she lost her baby ‘in the subsequent days’.

However they accepted there was ‘no medical evidence’ to prove the use of the taser was the ‘direct cause’.

A judge, sentencing both Perrett and Butts for assaulting an emergency worker, also praised the officer’s response – which he described as ‘instinctive’.

The incident arose out of a public spat in Barry town centre between Perrett and 34-year-old Butts, Cardiff Magistrates’ Court heard.

A policeman – named only as PC Hughes – stepped-in after the pair were seen arguing in the street, prosecutor Kelly-Marie Johnson said.

But the court heard Perrett then turned on the officer, who she punched as he attempted to restrain her.

Ms Johnson said: ‘Both were seen in the street shoving one another and shouting insults.

Video of the incident shows the officer deploying the Taser on the 35-year-old - who is seen landing face first on the tarmacked road

A judge, sentencing both Perrett and Butts for assaulting an emergency worker, praised the officer's response - which he described as 'instinctive'

Video of the incident shows the officer deploying the Taser on the 35-year-old – who is seen landing face first on the tarmacked road.  A judge, sentencing both Perrett and Butts for assaulting an emergency worker, praised the officer’s response – which he described as ‘instinctive’.

‘The officer was approached by male and then the female, she was saying: “I want him nicked”.

‘She then charged towards the male and the officer attempted to arrest her putting her in a restraint.

‘As he attempted to handcuff her she slipped his grasp and he took her to the floor.

‘It is said she then punched him and he was forced to continue to restrain her.’

Cardiff magistrates heard the police officer had to restrain Butts who tried to punch him – but as he did so Perrett stormed towards them.

Miss Johnson said: ‘She is then alleged to have thrown another punch. It is unclear if that connected.

‘The officer has then had to use his taser to control the situation.’

Perrett and Butts admitted assaulting an emergency worker and using threatening words or behaviour to cause fear of violence.

A policeman - named only as PC Hughes - stepped-in after the pair were seen arguing in the street, prosecutor Kelly-Marie Johnson said

A policeman – named only as PC Hughes – stepped-in after the pair were seen arguing in the street, prosecutor Kelly-Marie Johnson said

But the court heard Perrett then turned on the officer, who she punched as he attempted to restrain her

But the court heard Perrett then turned on the officer, who she punched as he attempted to restrain her

Tom Trobe, mitigating, said Perrett had been left with ‘substantial injuries’ following the incident including a black eye.

He added: ‘The most serious injury that she suffered was the loss of her child. She was three months pregnant.

‘While there is no medical evidence to say that this was the direct cause, she lost the baby in the subsequent days.

‘She accepts this was an unpleasant incident where violence need not have occurred.’

Mr Trobe said Butts had thrown a punch at the police officer after Perrett was hit.

He said: ‘This was an emotive situation and not a pre-planned offence.’

Mr Trobe said Perrett suffered from a psychiatric disorder and had been unable to get appropriate medical appointments during the pandemic.

He said that both she and Butts had suffered from drug addictions at the time of the incident on June 20 but had both were now complying with treatment programs.

District Judge Shoman Khan told the pair the police officer had been right to use his taser.

He said: ‘The officer’s reaction was instinctive, it was a heated situation and I thought he dealt with it very well.’

Butts, of Llantwit Major, South Wales, was handed an eight week suspended sentence and a nine month drug rehabilitation order.

Perrett, also of Llantwit Major, was handed a 16 week suspended sentence and ordered to do a thinking skills programme.

Butts, of Llantwit Major, South Wales, was handed an eight week suspended sentence and a nine month drug rehabilitation order

Perrett, also of Llantwit Major, was handed a 16 week suspended sentence and ordered to do a thinking skills programme

Butts (in blue), of Llantwit Major, South Wales, was handed an eight week suspended sentence and a nine month drug rehabilitation order. Perrett (in black), also of Llantwit Major, was handed a 16 week suspended sentence and ordered to do a thinking skills programme

Judge Khan told them: ‘If you commit more offences you bring them on yourselves just like you did in this incident.’

Speaking outside court, Perrett said: ‘I suffered a miscarriage after it happened. I was three months pregnant and I lost the baby.

‘I know that’s what caused it.’

Perrett says there was no need for her to be tasered over what was a row between her and her partner.

She said: ‘The first thing I remember was waking up and being pushed into the back of the police van.

‘They had to lift me in because I couldn’t stand up – my legs just wouldn’t work.

‘I thought I had broken my cheekbones as I was in so much pain and I had a black eye that stayed for over three weeks.

‘The copper’s reaction was completely over the top, he was well out of order. He had no need to taser me.

‘My mum saw the video afterwards and was crying.’

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