Teenager lost half a testicle after officer kneed him

Brendon Williams
BBC News
BBC The Cube night club in Bangor seen from the street outside.BBC
The incident took place outside the Cube night club in January 2023

A teenager lost half a testicle after being kneed in the groin by a police officer, a court has heard.

Harley Murphy was 17 when he was arrested outside the Cube night club in Bangor, Gwynedd, in the early hours of 29 January, 2023.

Mold Crown Court heard officer Ellis Thomas, from Anglesey, kneed him in the groin during the arrest, resulting in a ruptured testicle - 50% of which was later removed in an operation.

Ellis Thomas denies a charge of grievous bodily harm.

The court heard Mr Murphy admitted being drunk on the night, and an argument started outside the night club after one of the teenager's friends was pushed down the stairs by bouncers.

Opening the case, prosecutor Elen Owen said Mr Murphy insulted Mr Thomas, and another officer tried to get him to the ground.

As Mr Murphy was resisting, the court heard he was kneed in the groin.

"The pain was instant and like nothing he had felt before," the court heard.

Ms Owen said Mr Murphy was in "immense pain" when he was put in a police car and taken to a station.

Ellis Thomas wearing a white shirt, grey waistcoat and blue tie
Ellis Thomas has denied a charge of grievous bodily harm

The following day, he went to A&E at Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor and 50% of the content of one of his testicles was "bulging out".

Half of the ruptured testicle was removed and doctors concluded "long-term pain is possible".

The prosecution told the jury CCTV evidence would be shown, and the defendant "can be seen to raise his leg abruptly".

The court also heard the officer later told Mr Murphy: "You are calling me speccy and squaring up and pushing me, that's what you get."

He later told colleagues: "It was me who floored him," the court heard.

The trial continues.