A POLICE officer and a civilian worker are to appear in court over allegations that they attacked an arrested man.

Sergeant Stephen Harvey, 50, and Detention Officer Michael Mount, 60, both based at Peterlee police station, in County Durham, have been summonsed to face charges of assault by beating contrary to Section 39 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988.

They were served with summonses on Wednesday and are due to appear at Teesside Magistrates’ Court, in Middlesbrough on October 5.

A spokesman for the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) said the allegation the pair faced was that a 47-year-old man “was subjected to excessive and unreasonable force while in custody at Peterlee police station on March 5, this year”.

“Both men will be charged with two counts each of assault by beating when they appear at court,” said the spokesman “The Independent Police Complaints Commission independently investigated the incident after the complaint was referred by Durham Police.”

The allegations relate to an incident in March when a 47- year-old man from Seaham was arrested for breaching bail conditions and allegedly resisting arrest and assaulting a police officer.

He lodged a formal complaint with Durham Police on April 6 and the matter was then referred to the IPCC on May 20.

The IPCC decided to carry out an independent investigation into the complaint.

A spokesman for Durham Police said that Sgt Harvey and Mr Mount had not been suspended but were not performing any custodial duties at the moment.

He added: “Durham Police has co-operated fully with the IPCC investigation into this matter and we await the outcome of court proceedings.’’ 􀁧 The IPCC spokesman said that the Crown Prosecution Service was considering a file on its separate investigation into the death in custody at Peterlee of Leonard McCourt, 44, of Seaham, in September last year.