A POLICEMAN from Swindon bit a kebab shop owner's thumb during a fight and only let go when he was threatened with CS spray, a court was told.

The incident left the victim's thumb looking as if it had been "flattened with a hammer,'' said prosecutor Andrew Maitland at Truro Crown Court in Cornwall.

PC Dean Hoskins, 32, of Burdon Close, Lower Stratton, an officer with Swindon Police and a member of the Territorial Army, has denied assaulting Serif Kandemir, causing him actual bodily harm, on November 28 last year.

That weekend Hoskins was based at RAF St Mawgan, near Newquay, on a two-day sea survival course with the TA.

Mr Maitland said Hoskins and others had been drinking in Newquay and were involved in minor brawl with a group of Turks.

After closing time, the two groups were seen facing each other outside a pub and one of the English side appeared to be organising a fight, said the prosecutor.

PC Hoskins was heard to say: "Just you two, one on one." As Mr Kandemir went to answer his mobile phone, it is alleged Hoskins grabbed him and a fight broke out.

Mr Maitland added: "While on the ground Hoskins managed to get the complainant's thumb into his mouth. Others tried to separate them. Mr Kandemir got up but could not get his thumb out of Hoskins' mouth."

A police officer in uniform repeatedly asked Hoskins to let go but it was not until he threatened to use his CS spray that Hoskins did so, said Mr Maitland.

The victim needed hospital treatment for his thumb injury.

Hoskins told the police he thought Kandemir had taken a bottle from his pocket and was going to smash it on him.

That was why he went behind him and got hold of his left hand, and then 'all hell broke loose'.

Hoskins denied he had bitten Mr Kandemir's thumb or hearing the officer's threat to use CS spray.

"I didn't bite anybody, all the actions on my part were reasonable, necessary. I used the minimum force to protect my own safety,'' he said.

PC Hoskins has been with Swindon Police for six years and has been featured in the Advertiser patrolling the town to curb drunkenness and brawling in the street during night shifts.

Wiltshire Police will not confirm if PC Hoskins has been suspended from duty while the trial is underway.