MET OFFICER SACKED OVER TEN YEARS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE, AGGRESSION AND CONTROL
A Metropolitan Police Special Constable has been dismissed without notice after a disciplinary panel found he abused his partner and her children over a ten-year period, in behaviour described as “violent, abusive and persistent”.MSC Antony Wootton was found to have committed gross misconduct following a misconduct hearing held at Palestra House, London, between 27 and 30 May 2025.
The misconduct – which spanned from 2013 to early 2023 – involved emotional, physical and controlling abuse directed at his long-term partner (referred to as Person A) and her twin daughters (Persons B and C).
The panel, chaired by Commander Brittain, with independent members Clive Manning and Punima Uppal and legal advice from Ini Udom, found that Wootton breached the Standards of Professional Behaviour relating to Discreditable Conduct and Authority, Respect and Courtesy.
In one of the most serious incidents, on 12 February 2023, Wootton punched Person A in the arm during an argument and then pushed her into a door.
His response, according to her evidence, was chilling: “Didn’t see any witnesses – didn’t happen.” He then allegedly told their daughter, who had entered the room, “Mummy slipped.” The panel accepted that this assault occurred as alleged.
It was corroborated by testimony from Person A, her daughters, her parents and a close friend, Mrs Weston, to whom she disclosed the incident.
Another alarming episode took place in 2018, when Wootton, furious after one of the daughters accidentally broke a bauble, grabbed her by the hood and “strangled her” as he dragged her backwards.
When the family attempted to leave the house, Wootton retrieved a knife from the kitchen and said: “If you’re going, what’s the point of me being here?” Person A later told the panel she was so concerned for her safety and the safety of her children that she had prepared pre-packed bags and sought advice from SOLACE, a domestic abuse support service.
Over the years, Wootton was found to have shouted aggressively in Person A’s face, belittled her mental health, undermined her parenting, and created a household where, as Person A described it: “Me and the kids constantly felt like we were walking on eggshells.” The panel concluded that the conduct was not isolated and had a serious psychological impact on all three complainants.
Person C was referred to counselling and diagnosed with anxiety, and Person A said she lost all confidence in herself and had to “relearn how to live”.
Commander Brittain’s panel noted the behaviour caused “serious harm to individuals” and “reputational harm” to policing.
“There are three complainants in this case and several instances of violent, abusive conduct, which occurred over an extended period of time,” the panel wrote.
They determined dismissal without notice was the only appropriate sanction.
