A judge has blasted the conduct of a North Yorkshire policeman, and accused several other officers of lying in a vain bid to save a fellow officer from being jailed.

Judge Peter Charlesworth's scathing attack is the latest in a long line of criticisms of Harrogate police, including sex discrimination and allegations of misconduct.

He was speaking at York Crown Court after sentencing PC Paul Brett, of Liverpool, to two years jail for causing grievous bodily harm while off-duty. The policeman had denied breaking the leg and smashing the teeth of Harrogate roofer Paul Metcalfe, 45, but was convicted by a majority of 11 to one. He is expected to appeal. The judge said an unnamed Harrogate officer had given officers from several forces the opportunity to close ranks and lie about PC Brett to protect him by going to the police convalescent home where the suspect was and leaving a number of statement forms to be filled in by anyone who chose to do it. "The opportunity for orchestrated evidence was given, whether it was taken or not," said the judge.

Earlier he had told 33-year-old Brett: "The serious aspect of this case is the closing of ranks by a number of officers to support and to lie for you."

The judge also attacked police investigating the crime for taking a year to send the case to the Crown Prosecution Service.

He said Brett was not interviewed for nine months, although his victim and others gave statements shortly after the attack.

Tony Lidgate, North Yorkshire Police spokesman, said when the force received the judge's observations about the Harrogate officer, they would be studied carefully.

It is not clear which police force investigated the case.

David Bradshaw, prosecuting, told the judge that the superintendent originally in charge had retired on medical grounds halfway through the investigation and another senior officer had taken over.

The judge told Brett: "That night you not only let yourself down, you let the police down.

"You took it upon yourself, along with your colleagues to put out Mr Metcalfe from the public house in which he was a regular and welcome customer and when he objected to that, you would not accept that. You decided to sort him out, as one witness said. You viciously kicked and punched him when he was in no position to defend himself."

In evidence Brett claimed he thought Mr Metcalfe was drunk and that the victim had lurched towards him with his fists clenched. He had denied kicking or punching him or intending to harm him and claimed he used a standard police self-defence technique. Brett, who has been suspended since spring 1998, now faces a disciplinary hearing.

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