GMP cop accused of assaulting toddler and her dad denies allegations and says actions during incident were 'lawful'

A GMP cop accused of assaulting a toddler and her dad has denied the allegations in court. Police Constable Paul Cleasby is alleged to have hurt the child by forcibly pushing open the front door of her home, which, a court heard, she was standing behind.

He told a judge today (October 13) the did not know the two-year-old girl was there and did not believe she was struck by the door. He admitted repeatedly punching the girl's father, but said the first blow was in self-defence and that the next two punches were appropriate.

The child and her father cannot be be identified for legal reasons.

The 34-year-old GMP officer, of Windermere Road, Middleton, is on trial. He denies assaulting the man by beating; and assaulting the child by beating. Liverpool Magistrates’ Court has heard that officers went to the house in Oldham on November 18 last year after the man’s ex-partner rung them the previous day as he was refusing to leave her flat.

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The incident began just about 10.30 pm and lasted about eight minutes in semi-darkness in the hallway and kitchen of the first floor flat, a district judge has heard. Footage from the officers’ body worn cameras has been played to the court, showing the incident beginning after PC Cleasby refused to take his foot out of the door so the man could shut it until his former girlfriend came downstairs.

The officer told the court he did not want it to close and pushed it with his right hand with force. "Did you have any idea that the child was in the vicinity of the door?," asked his KC, Nicholas De La Poer. "No," he replied.

The man said he was not invited in and the officer told him he did not need an