A DURHAM Constabulary police constable and a former police sergeant are to face a gross misconduct hearing following an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

One of the officers was cleared of a charge of assault causing actual bodily harm when he appeared at Sunderland Magistrates Court last September.

However, the police watchdog has recommended that they both PC Daniel Reed and former police sergeant, Gary O’Neill, face disciplinary action for gross misconduct.

An IOPC spokesman said: "We carried out an investigation following the arrest of a 43-year-old man at a public house in Darlington, on November 8, 2016. The man later complained to the police after he was treated for injuries sustained during his arrest. The complaint was referred to us by the force on November 10, 2016 and we completed our investigation in April 2017.

"After examining CCTV footage of the arrest and statements given by officers and members of the public who witnessed the incident, we referred a file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). The CPS authorised the charge of assault causing actual bodily harm against PC Daniel Reed, who was an acting sergeant at the time the incident occurred. The case was heard at Sunderland Magistrates Court on September 6, 2017 and PC Reed was acquitted.

"Durham Constabulary has since agreed with our finding that PC Reed has a case to answer for gross misconduct in relation to the force he used during the man’s arrest.

"Durham also agreed that a former police sergeant, Gary O’Neill, who was present when the incident happened, has a case to answer for allegedly breaching the standards of professional behaviour.

"Durham Constabulary has not yet set a date for the gross misconduct hearing. We will consider publishing our findings once all disciplinary matters have been dealt with."

A police spokesman confirmed that disciplinary hearings will be heard at a later date.

He said: “We can confirm that a hearing is to be held into allegations of misconduct made against a Durham police constable and a retired sergeant.

“It would be inappropriate for us to comment further ahead of that hearing."