Police officer denies assaulting girl, 14

Essex Police officer PC Thomas White left Ipswich Magistrates' Court after pleading not guilty to assaulting a 14-year-old girl

A police officer has denied striking a 14-year-old girl with his knee and putting his hands around her neck in a hospital.

PC Thomas White, 30, of Essex Police, was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm following an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

The court heard the incident took place in Basildon on 27 March when the teenager was arrested by PC White, who was said to have used PAVA spray and “excessive force”.

At Ipswich Magistrates’ Court, PC White, of Jacks Close, Wickford, pleaded not guilty to the offence citing self-defence. He is next due to appear at Ipswich Crown Court on 18 November.

Essex Police's PC Thomas White (not pictured) was charged after an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct

Essex Police previously said PC White was “involved in a challenging situation during the arrest of a teenage girl".

In April, the force referred the incident to the IOPC, which opted to launch an independent investigation.

Once the IOPC had concluded its enquiries, it sent a file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service, which authorised the charge against PC White.

At Ipswich Magistrates' Court, prosecutor Paul Brown said: "During the arrest, it is said PC White assaulted [the victim] and provided no aftercare.

“He is alleged to have grabbed her at her throat and she was knee-struck, struck in the crotch and thrown onto a chair at a hospital.

"The victim was vulnerable and during some of the assaults she was actually handcuffed. There was clearly a breach of trust."

Mr White denied the offence, saying he was acting in self-defence, and was granted unconditional bail.