A shocking incident occurred when PC Leanne Counter, a police officer, physically attacked her mother after a heavy night of drinking, leaving her mother with serious injuries.

The attack took place in the back of a stranger’s car, and it was all sparked by an emotional and chaotic family gathering on Boxing Day 2023.

Drunken Row Leads to Violent Outburst

The evening began as a typical family gathering.

After spending time at the pub, PC Counter and her mother, Julie, went to her sister’s home in Teesside.

However, things took a turn for the worse when PC Counter’s behavior became increasingly disruptive.

Her sister, Lyndsey, eventually asked her to leave, and Julie, trying to keep the peace, agreed to make sure she got home safely.

The mother and daughter duo ended up in a taxi bound for PC Counter’s home, but as the journey progressed, the officer’s behavior became so erratic that the taxi driver felt compelled to stop at Wolviston service station in County Durham, refusing to continue the ride.

A Stranger’s Car and a Violent Outburst

At the service station, PC Counter and her mother encountered Lewis Failes and his brother-in-law, Mark, who were stopped to fix a flat tire.

According to Failes’ statement to the police disciplinary panel, he noticed the younger woman (PC Counter) shouting at her mother, who appeared to be trying to calm her down.

Failes described the situation as tense, with both women appearing to be intoxicated, but it was clear that PC Counter was far more drunk.

Despite the tension, the older woman asked for a ride, claiming her daughter was a police officer and needed to be taken away to avoid further trouble.

Reluctantly, Failes agreed to drive the two women, but the situation quickly escalated as PC Counter became increasingly aggressive in the backseat.

He recalled the car bouncing as she moved towards her mother, and he became so concerned that he nearly pulled over to ask them to leave.

The Attack and Injuries

As the journey continued, PC Counter’s behavior worsened, leading to a violent outburst.

Julie Counter was punched repeatedly in the face, leaving her with a cut under her nose, a swollen cheekbone, and bruises on her forearm from trying to defend herself.

Julie was devastated, stating that she was in tears because her daughter had attacked her, and she couldn’t even bear to look at her anymore.

PC Counter later had no recollection of the attack, only learning about it the next day from her father.

She texted a police colleague, blaming the Fireball cocktails she had drunk for her memory loss, and admitted to the assault after hearing her father’s account of what had happened.

Disciplinary Actions and Consequences

As a result of the attack, PC Counter faced a police disciplinary hearing.

She was arrested on suspicion of assault causing actual bodily harm but answered “no comment” to all questions during her interview.

While no criminal charges were filed against her, the disciplinary panel took the matter seriously.

They ultimately decided that her conduct was gross misconduct, and as a result, she was dismissed from her position as a constable and permanently banned from policing.

The panel chairman, Ian Wright, emphasized that immediate dismissal was necessary to maintain public trust in the police force, stating that the officer’s actions were in direct violation of the standards expected of those in law enforcement.

This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!

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