Horror moment police kill dad-of-3 by ‘throwing him around like a rag doll’ | UK | News

British police unlawfully killed a vulnerable man by throwing him around “like a rag doll” while restraining him on a hospital floor, an inquest jury has ruled Video footage captured the horrific moment twenty-four-year-old Brian Ringrose suffered catastrophic injuries from which he tragically died just days later.

An inquest jury has now concluded that the young father was unlawfully killed by way of manslaughter by former Thames Valley officer PC Martyn Jones. The distressing footage shows the officer – who was dismissed for gross misconduct following the incident in 2021 – using excessive force while restraining Mr Ringrose at the emergency department of Milton Keynes University Hospital (MKUH). The jury concluded that “neglect” by the other restraining officers and healthcare staff who did not intervene also contributed to his death.

Following an Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) investigation, PC Jones was dismissed last year, but he has never been prosecuted.

Another officer, PC Daniel Simson, was disciplined over the incident but avoided the sack.

Mr Ringrose was still suffering from an overdose of an unknown quantity of his prescribed medications at the time the excessive restraint attempt was carried out.

After the inquest concluded his heartbroken mother Mary said her son – an only child – was treated “like a rag doll”.

Her son had struggled with mental health issues following a car accident when he was a teen and spent frequent bouts of time in hospital.

He had three children with another on the way at the time of his death.

Speaking to Channel 4 News, Mary said: “He shouldn’t have been treated that way.

“They treated him like a rag doll. They’re there to protect and serve, not kill.”

Thames Valley Police have apologised to Brian’s family for the “tragic outcome”.

Nursing staff and health care assistants in the department were also found to have been making “inappropriate gestures and comments regarding Brian” when they “should have been monitoring his welfare”.

At one point during the restraint, a nurse can be heard saying: “It’s what you do with a three-year-old toddler ain’t it?”

The inquest opened on February 12, 2021 and an inquest hearing was heard from March 17, 2025 to April 24, 2025.

The jury at Milton Keynes Coroners Court concluded: “Brian Ringrose’s death was a result of unlawful killing.

“Unlawful act manslaughter on the part of a police officer, contributed to by neglect on the part of the restraining police officers and the two officers initially attending in the van and the healthcare staff.”

The incident took place on January 27, 2021, and he died six days later on February 2, 2021, after being put into an induced coma.

Police had been called at around 9am on January 27 to a domestic incident involving Mr Ringrose and his partner at a Travelodge hotel.

He was placed under arrest, but was showing symptoms of overdose including “alternating between reduced consciousness and intermittent agitation”, having taken an overdose of his prescribed medications just before 999 was dialled.

His arresting officers called paramedics to the hotel but whilst waiting for an ambulance to arrive Mr Ringrose “stumbled on the stairs and hit his head”.

When paramedics arrived they rushed him to the emergency department at MKUH.

Here, due to hospital staff being unaware of the quantity of Brian’s overdose, the Emergency Department (ED) doctor noted that he should remain there for six to 12 hours – however the doctor failed to record this time period in the plan.

As police tried to take him into custody, they forcibly restrained him face down on the floor, in the middle of the A&E department.

Solicitors for the Ringrose family said: “Hospital staff mistakenly informed police he had been discharged into their custody, with neither police nor hospital staff querying this even though Brian appeared semi-conscious and incapable of speech.”

They stated that his arms were “forced backwards over his head” for the majority of the 25 minutes of being restrained.

Mr Ringrose was then placed into the police van, where officers realised he wasn’t breathing. The 24-year-old was then taken back to hospital but passed away a few days on February 2.

A Statement from Matthew Barber, Thames Valley PCC, said: “My thoughts remain with the family and friends of Mr Ringrose following his tragic death and in their quest for answers after a long and difficult process.

“As a community, it is right that we entrust our police officers to use force appropriately in order to protect us all. The robust training that the Thames Valley Police has in place is important to reassure us all that any use of force in policing should always be proportionate, lawful, appropriate and necessary.

“The verdict concluded that Mr Ringrose’s death was a result of unlawful killing unlawful act manslaughter by a former Thames Valley Police officer, in contravention of Thames Valley Police’s policies, procedures and training. Recommendations from the IOPC investigation regarding those have already been put in place.

“The Force have rightly apologised to the family of Mr Ringrose for the tragic outcome. I am assured through continued liaison with the Chief Constable that Thames Valley Police trains its officers on the use of force to the highest standard to ensure officers are equipped to protect the public and themselves as they maintain order and uphold the law.

“I await the report from the Coroner following this inquest to understand any further learning for Thames Valley Police and will continue to hold the Chief Constable to account to ensure that any recommendations are implemented in full.”

‘I am assured through continued liaison with the Chief Constable that Thames Valley Police trains its officers on the use of force to the highest standard to ensure officers are equipped to protect the public and themselves as they maintain order and uphold the law.