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An inquest has found that a 23-year-man man who was unarmed died after Greater Manchester Police (GMP) officers “inappropriately and unreasonably" Tasered and restrained him.

BBC News reports that Jordon Begley was shot with the 50,000-volt stun gun from a distance of 28in (70cm). Mr Begley was also punched with “distraction strikes” as he was being restrained and handcuffed by three armed officers from GMP, an inquest jury was told during a five-week hearing at Manchester Civil Courts of Justice.

The incident occurred on 10 July 2013, when 11 police officers were called to Mr Begley’s home, after his mother dialled 999 to report that her son had a knife.

Mr Begley suffered a cardiac arrest after being Tasered and restrained – but the initial Taser shock did not cause his heart to stop.

The jury concluded, however, that use of the Taser and police restraint “more than materially contributed” to a “package” of stressful factors leading to Mr Begley's cardiac arrest.

The jury also found that Mr Begley's intoxication at the time of the incident and confrontation with police were contributing factors in his cardiac arrest.

However, the jury also said the officer who used the Taser on Mr Begley – PC Terence Donnelly – had “inappropriately and unreasonably” used the stun gun for longer than was necessary.

The inquest heard that PC Donnelly had pulled the Taser trigger for eight seconds – which the jury concluded was “not reasonable in the circumstances”.

Mr Begley had offered no resistance – but an officer had punched him for a second time as a “distraction strike” while he was being handcuffed. The inquest also ruled that Mr Begley had been left face down for too long, while handcuffed with his hands behind his back.

The inquest jury delivered a narrative verdict.

After the inquest, Assistant Chief Constable Dawn Copley said the verdict had “raised a number of serious concerns – including the way the Taser was used, the use of force by the officers after the Taser was deployed and about the communication between the officers who attended Jordon's home”.

“In the interim, I have decided to restrict the operational duties of the officers involved in the Taser discharge and restraint, until we have had time to fully consider the coroner's comments and have further dialogue with the IPCC,” she added.

Mr Begley’s mother Dorothy Begley, 47, said the jury’s conclusions were “fantastic” – and has called for all police officers to wear body cameras.

“After two years of fighting everybody, fighting the system, Jordon's day has come. That is all I ever wanted. The last two years have been hell. Someone has got to say sorry, they've got to. That's what we want.”

It is reported Mr Begley’s family are now seeking legal advice.

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