A SUSPECT temporarily paralysed by a Taser was punched in the face several times by a police officer, who is now facing a misconduct hearing.

The Tasered man, known only as Witness A, was involved in a fracas when he resisted arrest in the Dalesman pub in Darlington in October, 2016.

Police officers eventually had to use a Taser as they struggled to restrain him, and as he lay paralysed on the ground PC Daniel Reed punched him in the face a number of times.

PC Reed, of Durham Constabulary, denies using excessive force in the incident.

His superior, now-retired former Sergeant Gary O’Neill, is also facing gross misconduct allegations for not challenging the PC’s use of force or recording it.

The suspect, who was arrested, complained about the incident after being left with a black eye, swollen lip and other bruises and swelling to the face.

The panel who will decide the officers’ fate were shown CCTV footage of the incident which showed the punches being thrown as well as the major fracas before the Taser was discharged.

The injured man fell onto a pub table, breaking it, after he was Tasered by PC Alan Smith and lay on the floor for several seconds, when PC Reed can be seen punching his face.

However PC Smith said he had been trained in Taser and knew what to look for when it had worked and paralysed a suspect’s muscles.

He said before his training he had not seen it used and would not necessarily know if a Taser had been used.

In the confusion he had also not shouted an alert when he discharged the weapon, the hearing was told.

Sarah Barlow, PC Reed’s legal representative, said pepper spray had also been used in the incident.

PC Taylor, who had a bar stool thrown at him by the suspect’s daughter during the incident, which left him with a bad head injury, said he had been afraid for his own safety and that of his colleagues.

He said he had known PC Reed for 12 years, that PC Reed had been his supervisor, and added: “He is calming, reassuring, he doesn’t rise to provocation. I recall an incident at the hospital where a guy tried to headbutt us. PC Reed was professional throughout.

“I would describe him as someone who remains calm in volatile situations.”

Ms Barlow said: “Have you ever seen him overreact?”

PC Taylor replied: “Never.”

PC Reed could be dismissed if the panel finds his actions are gross misconduct.

Retired officer Sgt O’Neill, who is not present at this week’s hearing, could be banned from carrying out any police staff work in the future.

The hearing, in Spennymoor, continues.