‘Drunk detective ripped off shirt and attacked holidaymaker in pub’

Det Sgt Paul Whiteley, 50, also hurled abuse at the mother of an autistic teenager, it was claimed.

He is alleged to have launched the “unprovoked attack” after sharing bottles of wine with his girlfriend Claire Hughes, 43, at the Fylingdales Inn, Fylingthorpe, near Whitby.

It was alleged that as the couple left the pub - still carrying an open bottle of wine - they were followed into the car park by victim Carl Sarsfield, 41, an electrician, from Chadderton, Oldham.

Scarborough Magistrates heard holidaymaker Mr Sarsfield had been asked to have a word with the couple when the pub barmaid spotted them heading for their car.

The court heard that Mr Sarsfield rejoined his girlfriend Paula Crossley, 41, of Royton, Oldham, and her 19-year-old autistic daughter Mia  in the pub.

Hughes and Whiteley also came back into the pub and things became “heated,” Mr Sarsfield told the hearing.

He added after Whiteley  slapped him in the face he defended himself and the police officer ended up on his back.

He added: “He was absolutely legless. He could hardly stand up. He was falling all over the place.

“I could have burped on him and he would have fallen over.”

Miss Crossley, a full time carer, said: “My daughter was hysterical. I saw Carl and the man fighting. The man was very drunk and fell over dragging Carl with him.

“‎I managed to get hold of my daughter. The man’s girlfriend was still grabbing hold of handfuls of my hair and Carl pulled her off.

“She was trying to punch me in the head at the same time.”

The court heard police were called and Whiteley, of West Yorkshire Police Homocide and Major Enquiry Team, told the pub: “Let them come. I’m a police officer. I will sort it out.”

Prosecutor Martin Hawes described both attacks as “unprovoked” and denied Whiteley was acting in self defence.

‎Whiteley, of Grange Moor, Wakefield, and Hughes, of Fulford Place, Hospital Fields Road, York, both deny assault by beating.

The trial continues.