A POLICE officer from Essex Police has been charged with common assault against a man in police custody.

PC John Senior is charged with assaulting a prisoner in his cell by kicking him in the head, face and arms a number of times.

It follows an independent investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

The incident occurred on November 1, 2016, after the man was arrested and detained at Chelmsford Police station where PC Senior was on duty.

IPCC investigators viewed CCTV footage from the cell as well as conducting interviews with PC Senior and other witnesses.

The investigation concluded in April 2017 and found PC Senior had a case to answer for gross misconduct for his use of force.

A file was also sent to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and later that month the CPS granted authority to charge PC Senior.

An initial hearing for PC Senior is to take place on May 31, 2017 at Chelmsford Magistrates Court.