Cop accused of leaving man with ‘ boxing- match’ injuries
APOLICE officer left a man with “boxing- match” injuries amid claims he assaulted him, a court heard.
PC Steven Brennan, 50, was off- duty when he allegedly attacked Gary Spiers on a train at Glasgow’s Queen Street Station on March 5, 2019.
Brennan – an officer based at Cumbernauld, who has 18 years’ service with Police Scotland – denies assaulting the man to his injury.
Prosecutors claim Mr Spiers was seized and forced against a seat.
It is claimed Brennan forced Mr Spiers’s arm back as well as repeatedly punching his head and body.
Brennan is also said to have repeatedly struck Mr Spiers on the body with his elbow and knee.
A trial at Glasgow Sheriff Court heard how the constable had earlier been at a leaving party in the city centre before heading home with colleagues.
Train conductor Craig McIntyre said he found Mr Spiers being “held down” by Brennan and another officer.
The 45- year- old witness added: “I said ‘ what’s going on?’ and they said ‘ we’re police’.
“I said that this needs to calm down and a guy told me to ‘ do my f*** ing job’.
“There was not much movement and the man’s body was being held down and his arm as well.
“As much as they told me they were police officers, it did not appear that they were working in an off- duty capacity.”
Mr McIntyre stated Brennan “swung a blow” to Mr Spiers in a way he had “seen from mixed martial arts fights”.
Prosecutor Ian Meacock asked Mr McIntyre what Mr Spiers looked like when he got off the train.
The witness said: like he was involved match.
“He had pronounced swelling on his face and head around his eye and cheek bone area.”
Mr McIntyre added that Brennan and the other men did not appear to be injured.
The court watched CCTV alleged incident.
Mr McIntyre stated: see how much the man
“He in a looked boxing of the
“You can is leaning on the chair, he doesn’t look like someone holding him down. There appears to be a couple of knees put in during the last few seconds.”
British Transport Police sergeant Andrew Harrington, 32, was called to the scene.
He stated he could see Mr Spiers had an injured eye and that police take- down techniques “generally don’t involve the face”.
British Transport Police detective sergeant Lorna White, 43, also claimed to have seen Brennan strike Mr Spiers to his head and face on the footage.
Brennan gave evidence claimed Mr Spiers had been and “puffing out chest”.
The officer added: “I saw him make a motion with his left hand and he made contact with my friend. I could not see if it was a slap or a punch.
“I put my hand on his shoulder, he turned around to face me and he grabbed my jacket.
“He gritted his teeth and said ‘ I will f*** ing stab you’ and pushed me back.
“I regained my him forward and seating area.”
Brennan claims to have used a “police training technique” to restrain Mr Spiers with another officer.
He added that Mr Spiers bit down on his sports watch and that the officer used his heel on the man’s thigh to get him away
The trial continues next month before Sheriff Mary Shields. and aggressive his balance, pushed he fell into the