A POLICE officer from the Durham force was appearing in court this Friday after an alleged assault on a drinker outside a Newcastle pub.
DC John Beresford, who is based in the Derwentside division, was among three off-duty Durham officers interviewed by police from the Northumbria force over the incident on June 8.
As a result of an alleged single punch Graeme McMillan, 43, a married man of Kingston Park, Newcastle, was knocked out and suffered a brain haemorrhage after hitting his head on the ground.
Mr McMillan, a tool fitter, remains seriously ill in Newcastle General Hospital.
DC Beresford, also 43, answered bail at a Newcastle police station on Tuesday evening when he was charged with assault causing grievous bodily harm. He was bailed to go before Newcastle magistrates this Friday.
The two off-duty colleagues, one also based in Derwentside and the other at force headquarters at Aykley Heads, Durham, have both given witness statements, but neither has been charged.
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