Essex police officer denies assaulting man after traffic stop

A police officer delivered an "elbow strike to the head area" of a man handcuffed on the ground after a traffic stop, a court has been told.

PC Charlie Thompson, 25, of Essex Police, had gone to help colleagues who had stopped a driver on suspicion of using a mobile phone in January.

Colchester Magistrates' Court heard the defendant also pushed the driver to the ground nest to the A127 in Basildon.

PC Thompson of Dedham Road, Boxted, denies one count of assault by beating.

He said he heard a "rustling noise" over his radio in his car and "alarm bells" rang when he could not raise the other officers on the radio.

He then drove to the scene of the incident where another police car had already stopped.

The defendant said he feared motorist Zeki Badruddin, who had been handcuffed at the side of the road, was going to get up and may push him into the road.

Zeki Badruddin, had been arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker but was not prosecuted, the court heard.

Prosecutor Micaila Williams said Mr Badruddin was already in cuffs and seated when the defendant arrived, with it appearing as if the incident had "de-escalated".

When asked by Andrew McGee, defending, if PC Thompson delivered an "elbow strike", the officer said: "Absolutely not."

He said he placed his knee on Mr Badruddin's head for "no more than two seconds" while he was on the ground.

He added: "As soon as he stopped resisting, my knee came off and my hands went back on."

Ms Williams suggested PC Thompson "went in like a bull in a china shop", to which the officer responded: "I disagree."

Mr Badruddin said he chipped a tooth during the alleged assault and still "feels very anxious" when he sees police officers.

He said: "There was no reason for anyone to be coming near me.

"I was sitting down. I couldn't move. I wasn't being aggressive to anyone."

Mr McGee, said the "fact Mr Badruddin wasn't prosecuted is neither here nor there - it's irrelevant".

After the incident was flagged, the police constable was put on restricted duties and a mandatory referral was made to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, Essex Police said.

The trial was adjourned part-heard until 28 November when it would move to Chelmsford Magistrates' Court, with the defendant granted bail until then.

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