The BBC has confirmed that police officer Benjamin Monk was found guilty of the manslaughter of Atkinson but cleared of his murder.

The police officer electroshock Mr. Atkinson 33 seconds, more than six times longer than the normal cycle, before kicking him at least twice in the head during a confrontation in August 2016.

The jurors at Birmingham Crown Court took more than 18 hours to reach unanimous verdicts on the manslaughter charge against Monk. They cleared him of Mr Atkinson’s murder.

The 48-year-old former Aston Villa, Sheffield Wednesday and Ipswich Town striker had been shouting in the street in the early hours of the morning on August 15 outside his father’s house in Telford.

This is the first time a police officer has been convicted of manslaughter in England and Wales in 35 years.

The jury is continuing to deliberate over an assault charge for Monk’s colleague, PC Mary Ellen Bettley-Smith. Media release to follow…..