Lorne Castle was photographed detaining the suspected shoplifter outside the Nike store, pinning him to the ground with his arm held behind his back.
Lorne Castle when he was a police officer (Image: BNPS)
A former Dorset Police officer has been charged with causing grievous bodily harm after stepping in to detain a suspected shoplifter. Lorne Castle, 47, is accused of seriously injuring Daniel Meyrick during an altercation outside the Castlepoint shopping centre in Bournemouth, Dorset, on June 19 last year.
The incident took place just a few weeks after Mr. Castle had left his role as a Police Constable with Dorset Police. He was photographed detaining the suspected shoplifter outside the Nike store, pinning him to the ground with his arm held behind his back in an action described in reports at the time as a “citizen’s arrest”.
Prior to leaving the force, Mr Castle had completed a 10-year career in policing and was a highly decorated officer, recognised twice for life-saving bravery in the line of duty.
In 2017, he received an official commendation for rescuing a member of the public from deep, freezing water. He was later awarded a prestigious national bravery accolade from the Royal Humane Society in 2024 after risking his own life to wade into the freezing, fast-flowing waters of the River Avon in Christchurch to save an elderly, vulnerable woman with dementia.
Following an investigation by Thames Valley Police on behalf of Dorset Police, the Crown Prosecution Service has now charged Mr Castle with causing grievous bodily harm without intent.
Under the charge, brought under section 20 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861, he is accused of “unlawfully and maliciously inflicting grievous bodily harm” upon the alleged victim.
Mr Castle has been ordered to appear in the dock for the first time at Reading Magistrates’ Court on May 27.
In a statement, a Thames Valley Police spokesperson said: “Following our investigation on behalf of Dorset Police, the Crown Prosecution Service has charged a man in connection with an assault outside Castlepoint Shopping Centre in Bournemouth on 19 June last year.
“Lorne Castle, aged 47, from Bournemouth, was charged by postal requisition on 30 April with one count of inflicting grievous bodily harm.
“Castle is due to appear at Reading Magistrates’ Court on 27 May.”
The hearing is expected to begin at 10am.