Justice for Assault and Wrongful Arrest Victim

In May 2021, Shane Price, a Romany Gypsy man and self-employed gardener, was violently assaulted and unlawfully arrested by Inspector Jonathan Mellor of Lincolnshire Police in a shocking road-rage incident. What followed was an attempted cover-up, until Shane sought Iain Gould, the head of our specialist Actions Against the Police team at DPP Law, to fight for justice.

Thanks to Iain’s meticulous legal work and unwavering client support, Shane secured £100,000 in damages for assault and wrongful arrest, and his assailant, Inspector Mellor, was found guilty of gross misconduct.

The Incident

On the evening of the 26^th of May, while driving on the A46 with his partner, Shane overtook a slower-moving vehicle. A car travelling behind them then sped up and began flashing its lights and sounding its horn at Shane. That car turned out to be driven by Inspector Mellor, who was on duty but travelling in his own private vehicle and civilian clothes. In a display of aggression, Mellor came alongside Shane’s van, photographed him, and then overtook him. When Shane then stopped to remonstrate with Inspector Mellor, the officer launched a violent and unprovoked assault.

What happened next was caught on video by Shane’s wife: Inspector Mellor grabbed Shane by his throat, punched him in the face, and stamped on his already injured foot before pinning him to the ground. Shockingly, when uniformed officers arrived, it was Shane who was arrested, handcuffed, and taken to a police station instead of his attacker.

Despite the clear video evidence proving Shane’s innocence and his injuries, the police accepted Mellor’s version of events and interviewed Shane under caution on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker. His complaint was also dismissed by the force’s own Professional Standards Department, saying there was “no case to answer.”

Taking Legal Action with DPP Law

Believing the system had failed him, Shane sought legal advice to pursue a claim against Lincolnshire Police. Iain, having decades of experience in police misconduct claims, immediately saw serious grounds for action. As he later wrote in his blog:

‘’ The matter only proceeded to its correct and just result after I, on behalf of Shane, appealed the original complaint decision to the Independent Office for Police Conduct and they, the IOPC, insisted that misconduct charges be brought against Mellor.’’ – Iain Gould

Iain worked diligently to build a compelling case; he gathered evidence, challenged the false account provided by Inspector Mellor, and pushed for full disclosure. With pressure mounting, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) overturned the force’s internal dismissal of Shane’s complaint and ordered a misconduct hearing.

Justice Achieved

In January 2025, Inspector Mellor was found guilty of gross misconduct. Although he had retired before the hearing, the panel concluded that he would have been dismissed if he were still serving the Lincolnshire Police force. His actions were described as ‘‘entirely unnecessary, unreasonable, and disproportionate’’. It was also revealed that an officer had sent an anonymous ‘’bad apple’’ report to the Anti-Confrontation Unit, claiming that on the night of the incident, Inspector Mellor had bragged to colleagues in the parade room about ‘’smacking a gypo.’’

Thanks to Iain Gould’s persistence, Shane was also able to bring a successful civil claim for assault, false imprisonment, and malicious prosecution. Lincolnshire Police initially offered £50,000 to settle the case, but Iain firmly rejected it. Eventually, the Chief Constable agreed to pay £100,000 in damages plus legal costs, acknowledging the seriousness of the officer’s conduct and the lasting impact the experience had on Shane.

Shane Price’s Testimonial

DPP Law will Fight for Your Rights

This case study shows how expert legal advice can secure real accountability from public bodies. Without Iain’s tenacity and legal expertise, Shane may never have received the justice he deserved.

‘’Thankfully, as a combined result of my strenuous pursuit of the civil claim and the IOPC’s robust response to our appeal, justice has been done for Shane – and the wrong that began at the roadside in such a brutal fashion, has finally been put right.’’ – Iain Gould

If you have been a victim of police assault, false arrest, or misconduct, contact DPP Law’s Civil Actions Against the Police Department for expert legal advice. Our team of dedicated solicitors, led by Iain Gould, will help you fight for your rights and ensure that police forces are held accountable for their abuse of power.