A SUFFOLK policeman accused of assaulting a prisoner has had his case dismissed today.However Pc Peter Pitts must wait to discover whether the county's police force will take any disciplinary action against him.

A SUFFOLK policeman accused of assaulting a prisoner has had his case dismissed today.

However Pc Peter Pitts must wait to discover whether the county's police force will take any disciplinary action against him.

Pc Pitts was accused of forcing a prisoner up against the custody desk at Ipswich police station, grabbing his hair and pulling his head back. He was also alleged to have kneed the young prisoner in the head.

But today after watching a DVD of CCTV footage of the incident and listening to the alleged victim's evidence, Judge David Cooper at South East Suffolk Magistrates Court dismissed the charges.

PC Pitts, of Melbourne Road, Ipswich, denied the accusations of assault by beating on Paul Kyriakides on April 23 last year. The 37-year-old was suspended after the assault.

A Suffolk police spokeswoman said: "Suffolk Constabulary will now give consideration to the issue of whether or not internal disciplinary action is appropriate under the circumstances. And will make its recommendation to the Independent Police Complaints Authority which has supervised this matter throughout."

Prosecutor Peter Tidey, told the court of the incident in Ipswich custody office where on two occasions Pc Pitts used unreasonable and unnecessary force.

The incident happened after Pc Pitts arrested Mr Kyriakides after a fracas outside Brannigans Nightclub in Ipswich. He had received a bloody nose and sore ribs after a fight with his brother.

Mr Kyriakides who was arrested for breach of the peace, was taken to Ipswich police station.

When Mr Kyriakides gave his evidence in court, he said he did not recall any of the alleged assaults by Pc Pitts.

He said he found out about the incident from Chief Inspector Jim Friend, who told him what apparently happened, when he had visited the police station to complain about his brother a number of days later.

Judge Cooper praised the police for taking the matter seriously and dismissed the charges.

Pc Pitts was unavailable for comment.