Cash-row policeman found guilty

Brian Hossack • Published 26 Aug 2010 14:00

A POLICEMAN burst into a flat after a heated argument with a woman and her daughter over unpaid rent and bills.

Greenock Sheriff Court heard Paul Renfrew, 37, turned up at the property screaming and demanding to be let in to discuss alleged debts owed to him by the householders.

But after being told to leave by the younger of the women, aged 19, the officer pushed his face to the door and tried to force his way inside - bawling abuse at the two terrified tenants.

Renfrew, of Caddlehill Street, Greenock, a serving Strathclyde constable, is now facing an internal probe into his conduct, meaning he could lose his £35,000-a-year job and pension.

The woman’s daughter, a university student, told the trial Renfrew turned up at the flat just after 6.30pm on 22 September last year.

She said: “I told him to go away and I made a nasty comment towards him. He then came back and began thumping the door.

“I opened it and he put his face up to mine and asked what I had just said. He was angry and I tried to close it over but he was pushing and shouting and then got inside. My mum ran forward screaming at him to get out and we both managed to push him back.

“The door was still open a bit and his arm was still flailing through. He was grabbing out and pulling at my mum’s hair. We got it closed and it was kicked a few times from the other side. We could hear Paul Renfrew still outside shouting.”

The 37-year-old claimed in court he had not been at the flat on the night in question, but was convicted of a breach of the peace by Sheriff John Herald after a two-day trial this week.

He told Renfrew: “You went to that door and then you went back again. Someone of your training and experience should have known better.

“You then tried to push your way in and these two women had difficulty forcing you out. Your actions caused considerable distress to both of them.

“I also accept that the complainer didn’t want to report this matter to police because you are a serving officer, but she did so because her daughter said she wouldn’t return home if she didn’t. I do, however, accept the breach was at the lower end of the scale.”

A charge of assaulting the woman by pulling her hair and slapping her on the head was found not proven.

Renfrew was found not guilty of a third charge alleging he assaulted the teenager by kicking a door, causing it to strike her.

A defence agent for Renfrew said his client would face possible action as a result of the court proceedings.

He added: “He is a divorced man, a father-of-two, with 18 years’ police service. There will be misconduct proceedings as a result of what has happened.

“He is in a position to pay a fine.”

Sheriff Herald fined Renfrew £250.

A spokesperson for Strathclyde Police said: “Following the officer’s conviction, a report will be prepared for the Deputy Chief Constable for his consideration.”

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This article appeared in Greenock Telegraph 26 Aug 10

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