A POLICE officer accused of assaulting a teenage boy in custody said he felt angry and frustrated during the incident — but did not lose his temper.

PC Stephen Hudson, aged 43, who was working in Greater Manchester Police ’s Swinton custody suite at the time, denies a charge of misconduct in a public office.

It is alleged that Hudson used excessive force on the 15-year-old three times when he refused to empty his pockets during a search.

The boy, who is now 16, had been arrested on the morning of Saturday, March 5, last year after breaching bail.

Hudson, of Gilliburns Walk, Westhoughton , told Bolton Crown Court yesterday: “I was frustrated and a bit angry that he wouldn’t comply.

“I was trying to do a legitimate search and he just wasn’t doing what he was told.

“I didn’t lose my temper at any point. I was being assertive.”

The court heard the boy was lifted off his feet when Hudson took hold of him and pushed him towards the check-in counter.

Hudson, a father-of-three who has been in GMP for 12 years, said he had previously suffered a suspected fractured skull, cracked rib, perforated ear drum, dislocated knee cap and broken finger after being attacked during his work .

Iain Simkin, prosecuting, showed the jury a CCTV image of the boy’s head resting in a tray on top of the counter after Hudson used a “pain compliance” technique on the boy.

He said the image demonstrates that too much force was used.

Mr Hudson said: “There was no injury that I caused by doing this. The amount of pressure I put on was minor and lasted for a few seconds until I took it off again.”

He said the boy’s feet came off the floor because he jumped, and that it was never his intention to lift him up.

The court heard that Hudson recognised the boy and was aware of him kicking his cell door previously and being non-compliant.

Hudson has been on restricted duties since the allegations.

He said in hindsight he could have stepped back and let his colleagues deal with the incident or communicated more with the boy and his colleagues.

The case continues