Australian cop arrests woman because she didn't make eye contact with him at pub

CCTV footage shows Constable Follington and his junior colleague grabbing the woman's arm and blocking her from leaving the pub.
CCTV footage shows Constable Follington and his junior colleague grabbing the woman's arm and blocking her from leaving the pub. Photo credit: Getty

A New South Wales police officer has admitted to violently arresting a woman at a pub because she didn't make eye contact with him. 

In May 2019, Senior Constable Mark Follington arrested Anya Bradford, 25, because her attitude raised suspicion, he said in a court hearing on Tuesday.

In Sydney's Golden Fleece Hotel, Bradford was metres away from Constable Follington when she got up and walked out of the gaming room.

When police asked for her name, she replied, "f**k off" and told police she didn't have ID with her.

In a court hearing on Tuesday, CCTV footage shows Constable Follington and his junior colleague grabbing the woman's arm and blocking her from leaving the pub.

Bradford kicked Constable Follington, ran off and was pursued into the foyer of another building, where he pulled her out of the lift, court heard on Tuesday.

The junior colleague then pepper-sprayed and handcuffed the woman.

When asked what had brought Bradford to his attention, Constable Follington said her "attitude" in the hotel was similar to those who have a warrant out for their arrest.

"People normally come up and say hello. She was keeping her eyes down," he said.

"To me, that starts to send a signal to me that this person is trying to hide from me."

After her arrest, Constable Follington placed his elbow under her chin, forcing her face up. 

"She is struggling, she is trying to lash out, she's calling me everything under the sun, she's trying to spit," he said.

Crown prosecutor Claire Robinson said Follington had written "fiction" to justify his action.

Robison said, after reviewing CCTV footage, Follington sought to charge the complainant before anyone else had the opportunity to also view it.