Beaten man’s face like a horror movie, court told (From The Northern Echo)

Beaten man’s face like a horror movie, court told

11:15am Thursday 9th July 2009 in

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A MAN was savagely beaten by a police officer and left to look like something out of a horror film with five missing teeth and gaping head wounds, a court heard yesterday.

Simon Atkins is alleged to have “used violence for the sake of violence” and “unwarranted gratuitous force”

while arresting suspected banned driver Lee Scott, in Middlesbrough.

Father-of-two Mr Scott was left covered in blood and needing extensive hospital and dental treatment after the encounter in September 2007, a jury at Teesside Crown Court was told.

It is said Cleveland Police officer PC Atkins hit Mr Scott with his extendable baton twice across the head after chasing him over a grassed area in Hemlington.

PC Atkins claims he merely repeatedly punched Mr Scott in the face, and was acting in self-defence after the suspect – who has no convictions for violence – tried to attack him.

The 36-year-old officer, of Hesleden Avenue, Middlesbrough, denies a charge of unlawful wounding on September 30.

The jury heard that the drama started after Mr Scott went to the Coulby Newham home of his estranged wife to collect their son.

He says he was not allowed into the house and when he saw his former partner on the telephone, he assumed she was calling the police to “stitch him up” for driving while disqualified.

Mr Scott said he panicked and drove off, but ditched the van when he thought he was being followed by the police and ran off.

He said he gave himself up when he realised PC Atkins was catching him, and denied trying to punch the officer.

Jane Musgrave, who lives nearby, said she saw Mr Scott being attacked on the ground.

“It was like something out of a horror movie. His face was covered in blood. It was just dripping all the way down his face. You could not see his features or anything.”

Mr Scott was charged with driving while disqualified, a public order offence relating to his ex-wife’s home, and failing to give a breath sample, but was prosecuted only for the motoring matter.

The trial continues.