A FELIXSTOWE man said a police officer repeatedly kneed him in the leg after he was arrested for a motoring offence. Scott Donaldson told South East Suffolk Magistrates two "burly" policemen held his arms high up on his back as he was forced over the custody bench and handcuffed at Felixstowe Police station.

A FELIXSTOWE man said a police officer repeatedly kneed him in the leg after he was arrested for a motoring offence.

Scott Donaldson told South East Suffolk Magistrates two "burly" policemen held his arms high up on his back as he was forced over the custody bench and handcuffed at Felixstowe Police station.

He said his leg was forced away from him and an officer repeatedly kneed him whilst he was restrained.

Donaldson was appearing in court charged with a number of driving offences and also assaulting a police officer after he spat in his face.

The 35-year-old of Grange Road said: "It was hard to believe, when I was pulled up I had spit all over me from my face being pushed into the desk".

Donaldson was stopped in a Ford Sierra in Bath Road after an officer recognised the car as that belonging to a known criminal.

Both drivers, Donaldson and the officer, refused to give way to each other and Donaldson was stopped for careless driving.

Donaldson ran from police but eventually gave himself up in High Road West. He was arrested for careless driving, failing to surrender to custody, failing to provide a breath test and other motoring offences.

After his arrest Donaldson became agitated at the police station when officers refused to acknowledge that the car belonged to his friend and considered charging him with theft of the vehicle.

It was at this point he says he was forcibly handcuffed and assaulted. Donaldson said following the attack he had spat but had not aimed it at the officers face it hit.

He admitted driving without a licence and insurance and failing to surrender to custody but denied the other allegations.

Throughout the trial Felixstowe police officers denied that any excessive force was used against Donaldson and that the assault did not take place.

Following his trial, magistrates decided there was no case to answer on the careless driving charge it was a "lack of manners" on the part of both drivers. The charge of failing to provide a breath test was also dropped because official forms had not been completed correctly by the police, the court heard. It was stated that the correct procedure "was not adhered to".

Donaldson was however, convicted of assaulting a police officer by spitting in his face and he is due to be sentenced on February 12 after a pre-sentence report has been prepared. He was released on unconditional bail and told custody would not be a sentencing option.