PC Adam Sahel convicted of assault after spraying colleague with PAVA at Catford station

A Metropolitan Police officer has been convicted of assaulting a junior colleague after spraying him with PAVA incapacitant spray in the yard of Catford police station. PC Adam Sahel, 34, was found guilty of common assault at Southwark Crown Court on 5 August 2026. He will be sentenced on 23 September 2026.

The incident occurred on 26 August 2023. Sahel, who was attached to the Met’s Taskforce, confronted the junior officer before discharging his police-issue PAVA spray into the victim’s face. The victim’s eyes were visibly irritated, but Sahel attempted to mislead supervisors by suggesting the officer had been crying or had injured himself.

Attempts to cover up the assault

Sahel repeatedly asked the victim to lie about the assault, warning that reporting it would harm his career. Despite these efforts, both the victim and other officers reported the incident. The Met launched an investigation and placed Sahel on restricted duties in December 2023.

He was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm on 22 February 2024. A jury at Southwark Crown Court found him not guilty of that charge but convicted him of the lesser offence of common assault. The court heard evidence that Sahel had tried to obstruct the investigation by pressuring colleagues to conceal the truth.

Met response and next steps

Following the conviction, the Met confirmed that Sahel will face an accelerated gross misconduct hearing. Chief Superintendent Chris Green, who leads the Taskforce, said the force has no tolerance for officers who fail to meet its standards. He described Sahel’s actions as dishonest and unacceptable.

Green said the Met has been working to improve culture within the Taskforce, including changes to leadership, enhanced training and a renewed focus on standards. The force has faced scrutiny in recent years over conduct issues, with multiple cases of officers being disciplined or prosecuted for misconduct.

Sahel remains on restricted duties pending sentencing and the misconduct hearing. The Met has not confirmed whether he will be dismissed if found guilty of gross misconduct. Residents in Catford and across Lewisham can report concerns about police conduct to the Met’s Professional Standards Unit or the Independent Office for Police Conduct.

What happens next

Sahel will be sentenced at Southwark Crown Court on 23 September 2026. The maximum penalty for common assault is six months’ imprisonment, though sentences can also include fines or community orders. The Met’s gross misconduct hearing will follow, where a panel will decide whether his actions amount to a breach of professional standards.

The victim, whose identity has not been disclosed, has not made a public statement. The Met has not confirmed whether he remains in the force or has been offered support following the incident.