A WHITTLESEY police officer has been suspended after he punched a woman who challenged him over urinating in a street.

Daniel O’Sullivan, 30, was found guilty of common assault by a jury at Southwark Crown Court last Thursday. He now faces a disciplinary hearing.

Off-duty O’Sullivan argued with Paula Elliot after he stopped to urinate in an alleyway near Leicester Square on November 19 2010.

The court heard he poured his drink over Ms Elliot and punched her in the face. She suffered an injury which required nine stitches.

Judge Michael Gledhill QC, said: “You provoked the incident by urinating in a public place. It seems you have learned a lesson because you may have to be dismissed from the police.”

O’Sullivan, of Hinton Close, Whittlesey, denied unlawful wounding and common assault. He was cleared of unlawful wounding by the jury.

Judge Gledhill fined O’Sullivan �1,500 and ordered him to pay �500 compensation and �500 towards the costs of the case, as well as a �15 victim surcharge.

O’Sullivan joined the Met Police in 2001 and worked in the community safety unit.

Chief Supt Simon Corkill said: “This case demonstrates how officers are held to account for their actions both on and off-duty.

“But Islington officers work tirelessly and this has been illustrated by their work over the summer in stopping disorder and bringing those involved to justice.”

O’Sullivan told the court that he ignored Ms Elliott at first but admitted throwing his drink at her.