POlice worker denies burning prisoner

Prosecutors have told Leeds Crown Court that Abdul Aziz Alfadley, 26, suffered scalding injuries to his lower abdomen and genitals after a cup of hot water was thrown over him in a cell at Barnsley police station, in South Yorkshire.

A jury has been shown CCTV footage of detention officer Adrian Law, 45, putting his arm into Mr Alfadley’s cell holding a cup.

On Monday, Law explained to the court he had been passing the prisoner a cup of cold water because he was concerned he was under the influence of amphetamines.

Law said Mr Alfadley responded by calling him a “mother-f*****” and knocked the water away in a gesture of defiance. The custody officer said he did not think any of the cold water went on the detainee.

Law said: “He turned round and I think he called me a mother-f***** and, with what I would call a defiant gesture, he simply knocked or tapped the back of my hand.” He was asked by his barrister Iain Hillis: “Did you cause those injuries in any way to Mr Alfadley?” Law told the jury: “No, sir.”

He said the prisoner, who was eventually taken to hospital with injuries to his lower abdomen and genital area, had not mentioned having hot water thrown on him during his detention. But, he said, Mr Alfadley said something about having acid sprayed on him before he was taken away for treatment.

Asked about whether he got annoyed with the prisoner’s unruly behaviour, Law said: “It’s what I do every day - I meet angry prisoners and Mr Alfadley was no different to any other angry prisoner I’d met previously.”

Law told the jury he had worked in the cells at Barnsley police station for six years and before that had worked for seven years with the Group 4 security firm, escorting prisoners around the UK. Before this he worked in the mining industry for 16 years, he told the jury.

Law said he had never had a complaint made about him before. Law, of Cromwell Court, Goldthorpe, near Barnsley, denies causing grievous bodily harm with intent. The trial continues.