A POLICE officer from Wroughton covered up for a colleague who "gratuitously" split open a student's head with a metal baton, a court heard.
PC Adrian Naylor is one of three officers facing a charge of misconduct in a public office after the incident near Reading railway station at 1am on May 11, 2001.
Naylor, of Saville Court, Wroughton, was serving with British Transport Police at the time and was one of three officers who broke up a brawl between drunken youths.
John Williams, prosecuting at Southwark Crown Court, said PC Richard Evans, of St George's Road, Mitcham, Surrey struck student Peter Snell, then 17, with a "gratuitous and unnecessary" blow.
A complaint was made to Thames Valley Police by Mr Snell's mother, after he had seven stitches in the wound.
The court heard that Naylor, and fellow officer John Seaman said they had not seen the incident, despite complaints from members of the public.
Mr Williams said the officers portrayed Mr Snell as uncooperative, and that supervising officer Sgt Albert Ryan, of Campion Hall Drive, Oxford, also failed in his duty to investigate the incident.
Evans denies one charge of assault causing actual bodily harm, and Ryan, Seaman and Naylor deny misconduct in public office.
The trial continues
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article