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| Police officer accused of assault says boy has history of making false claims | Police officer accused of assault says boy has history of making false claims |
| (4 months later) | |
| A Metropolitan police officer who allegedly stamped on an arrested teenager, leaving him struggling to breathe, has been accused of trying to "smear" the youth as he denied the charges. | A Metropolitan police officer who allegedly stamped on an arrested teenager, leaving him struggling to breathe, has been accused of trying to "smear" the youth as he denied the charges. |
| Prosecutors claim PC Joseph Harrington, 29, assaulted the boy, then 15, while he was being held in custody days after riots swept the country in 2011. | Prosecutors claim PC Joseph Harrington, 29, assaulted the boy, then 15, while he was being held in custody days after riots swept the country in 2011. |
| On Wednesday he insisted he restrained the boy only after he became aggressive and suggested the youngster had a history of making false allegations. | On Wednesday he insisted he restrained the boy only after he became aggressive and suggested the youngster had a history of making false allegations. |
| Harrington said the youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, left him in "fear" for his safety during a heated confrontation in a caged cell at Forest Gate police station. | Harrington said the youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, left him in "fear" for his safety during a heated confrontation in a caged cell at Forest Gate police station. |
| The teenager has told the court how an officer stamped on him then "dropped his whole body" on to his back after apparently recognising him from a confrontation a day or two before. | The teenager has told the court how an officer stamped on him then "dropped his whole body" on to his back after apparently recognising him from a confrontation a day or two before. |
| On that occasion, he claims, Harrington put his hands around his neck. | On that occasion, he claims, Harrington put his hands around his neck. |
| Southwark crown court has heard how the teenager was arrested for a separate matter on 11 August and was taken from Stratford police station, east London, to Forest Gate police station. | Southwark crown court has heard how the teenager was arrested for a separate matter on 11 August and was taken from Stratford police station, east London, to Forest Gate police station. |
| He was in the caged area near the custody suite when Harrington walked in and made reference to their previous meeting. | He was in the caged area near the custody suite when Harrington walked in and made reference to their previous meeting. |
| The 17-year-old said: "I laughed at him. I thought: 'I'm already arrested for something I haven't done, I'm handcuffed, in a police cage, what could get worse?"' | The 17-year-old said: "I laughed at him. I thought: 'I'm already arrested for something I haven't done, I'm handcuffed, in a police cage, what could get worse?"' |
| He was said to have become verbally abusive before an older policeman grabbed him by his jacket, which ripped. Officers dragged him across the floor before Harrington allegedly stamped on his back, he told the court. | He was said to have become verbally abusive before an older policeman grabbed him by his jacket, which ripped. Officers dragged him across the floor before Harrington allegedly stamped on his back, he told the court. |
| Giving evidence in his defence, Harrington dismissed suggestions that he unnecessarily resorted to force. | Giving evidence in his defence, Harrington dismissed suggestions that he unnecessarily resorted to force. |
| "I was sticking to my training and what my experience told me I needed to do," he said. He told the court officers had endured a "very tiring" few days during the riots, when police were subjected to days of abuse. | "I was sticking to my training and what my experience told me I needed to do," he said. He told the court officers had endured a "very tiring" few days during the riots, when police were subjected to days of abuse. |
| Duncan Atkinson, prosecuting, said: "Quite simply, Mr Harrington, you had had enough." | Duncan Atkinson, prosecuting, said: "Quite simply, Mr Harrington, you had had enough." |
| The officer replied: "No, I disagree, sir." | The officer replied: "No, I disagree, sir." |
| Atkinson added: "He posed no threat to anyone." | Atkinson added: "He posed no threat to anyone." |
| Harrington replied: "Absolutely not, he put me in fear of being immediately assaulted." | Harrington replied: "Absolutely not, he put me in fear of being immediately assaulted." |
| He said the teenager was known for assaulting police and told the court he believed the youth was also known to have made false allegations. | He said the teenager was known for assaulting police and told the court he believed the youth was also known to have made false allegations. |
| Atkinson said: "Is that something you have just thought up?" | Atkinson said: "Is that something you have just thought up?" |
| He replied: "No sir." | He replied: "No sir." |
| The prosecutor said: "Are you trying, in any way you can, to smear [him]?" | The prosecutor said: "Are you trying, in any way you can, to smear [him]?" |
| "No sir," Harrington replied. | "No sir," Harrington replied. |
| Harrington, of Walthamstow, east London, denies assault. The trial was adjourned until Thursday. | Harrington, of Walthamstow, east London, denies assault. The trial was adjourned until Thursday. |
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