Sergeant ‘kneed suspected burglar in groin’

West Yorkshire Police officer Craig Nicholls is then alleged to have contacted a young constable in a bid to “back up” his version of events over the incident.

A jury at Leeds Crown Court heard Nicholls, 45, kneed suspect Christopher Thrush so hard in the testicles that he was left doubled up in pain and wet himself. The attack is alleged to have happened in Hudson Road, Harehills, Leeds, as he was in charge of a team of officers in that area of the city.

Nicholls had been called to the area with a Police Community Support Officer in the early hours of November 30, 2011, after a report that two men were out to commit burglary.

Richard Wright, prosecuting, said Nicholls detained Thrush shortly before Pcs Philip Brewer and Johnny Frank arrived at the scene to provide back-up. Mr Wright said Nicholls walked up to Mr Thrush and kneed him in the groin with unnecessary force that was “unlawful and gratuitous”.

The prosecutor said: “Mr Thrush was vocal in his complaint that the police officer had kicked him in the b******s.”

He added: “The prosecution says this was not a scenario in which force was necessary at all, legitimately or otherwise.”

The jury was told Pcs Brewer and Frank were “extremely concerned” about the incident and later reported it to their own sergeant back at the station.

Mr Wright said an investigation was launched and it was inevitable that any officer present at the scene would be spoken to.

Nicholls is alleged to have made a telephone call to Pc Katie Wyatt, who was at the scene, 10 days after the incident.

Mr Wright added: “He gave his own version of events that he was completely innocent and repeatedly told Katie Wyatt that he needed someone to back him up.”

Mr Wright said the phone call was a deliberate attempt by a sergeant to persuade a young constable into supporting him.

Nicholls, of South Elmsall, near Pontefract, has pleaded not guilty to assault and doing an act intending to pervert the course of justice. The prosecutor said Nicholls’s account was that Pcs Franks and Brewer lied about what they saw.

Giving evidence, Sgt Kirsty Wiggin said Pc Brewer had been “visibly shaken” when he spoke to her about it. She said the officers explained to her that Nicholls had become angry or frustrated with Thrush before carrying out the assault.

Sgt Wiggin said the officers had told her that Nicholls had crossed the road in search of an item of property that had been discarded, but was unable to find it.

The court heard Nicholls then crossed back over the road and kneed him in the groin area. Sgt Wiggin said she saw Nicholls several days after the incident and he asked her if she knew if a complaint had been made about him.

The officer explained that she told Nicholls there was a complaint by Pcs Brewer and Franks that they had been unhappy at the way he had dealt with the situation.

Mr Wright asked Sgt Wiggin: “Did he say anything about Pcs Brewer and Franks?”

She replied: “He mentioned the fact that they had ‘done his legs’.”

Mr Wright said: “What did you take that to mean?”

Sgt Wiggin said: “That they had grassed him in.”

The officer said she told Nicholls that the complaint was under investigation and he should not contact members of her team.

The trial continues.