Assault Pc 'protecting himself'

Keith Empsall is appealing against an assault conviction

A police officer appealing against an assault conviction has said he was "fearful" for his safety.

Keith Empsall was found guilty of common assault last September after he was caught on film kicking and punching a man he was arresting in Wakefield.

He was jailed for two months by Leeds magistrates but released on bail pending the appeal.

At the Leeds Crown Court appeal hearing, he said was afraid he was going to be attacked by Christopher Wilson and struck him three times to disorientate him.

Empsall said he and another officer had gone to help colleagues deal with an incident in June 2001 in which a car was smashed with a baseball bat.

I honestly believed I needed to use the force I used to protect myself Keith Empsall

The hearing heard Mr Wilson refused to let them in to the flat.

Empsall said he then decided to arrest Mr Wilson, who had been drinking heavily, for being drunk and disorderly.

But he denied kicking Mr Wilson or using a closed fist to punch him in the face but said he struck him three times with an open palm in order to distract and disorientate him.

He said: "I honestly believed I needed to use the force I used to protect myself.

"I did not want to get into a situation where I was rolling around on the ground with Mr Wilson.

"I just wanted to take control, take command. I was fearful."

The hearing continues.