A GREATER Manchester police officer will go on trial accused of trying to pervert the course of justice by making false statements against a protester at a political rally in Bolton.

PC Alan Glover, aged 31, is said to have provided false or misleading evidence which resulted in Unite Against Fascism campaigner Alan Clough being charged with public order offences.

Mr Clough, aged 64, was at a demonstration against the English Defence League in Bolton, when he was arrested in March, 2010, York Crown Court heard. He was charged and his case taken before magistrates before being dropped. Glover, who was policing the event in Victoria Square, has yet to enter a plea and is due to go on trial in York on June 17.

His colleague, Inspector Robert Cantrell, aged 39, faced the same charge of intending to pervert the course of justice by giving false or misleading statements. However, it was quashed yesterday after a judge at York Crown Court, ruled the evidence did not support the charge.