A BEXLEY police officer accused of a "totally unprovoked" assault on a 14-year-old boy appeared in court today.

Steven Rea, 39, of Baleside Close, Chelsfield, is charged with one count of common assault on the boy while in police custody on October 13 last year.

The boy, now 15, had been arrested in Erith town centre on suspicion of stealing a bottle of vodka.

Carl Kelvin, prosecuting, told Westminster Magistrates' Court: "The boy was suspected of stealing alcohol from a shop called Iceland.

"On being arrested he was uncooperative. He kicked out at a police officer.

"From the moment he was put in the police van he alternated between swearing at the officers and closing his eyes and being unresponsive.

"He was brought into the custody area where he continued to be unresponsive and collapsed his body on to the desk.

"Steven Rea told the officers to take this 'horrible individual' off his desk.

"When they took him away he slumped over a bench.

"Steven Rea says 'you have f***ing upset me now'.

"He takes hold of the boy, he pulls him up, the boy falls to the floor, he picks him up from the floor, he shouts and swears at him.

CCTV footage shows Rea saying: "Now you've f***ing upset me.

"Get up, stop being a prick. What is wrong with you? You do the thieving, you stand up and be a man."

Rea then pulls the youngster over to a custody cell, saying: "You get in there. Don't f***ing touch me. Do as you are told."

Mr Kelvin added: "The force used by Steven Rea was totally unprovoked and there was no need to do it."

When asked whether he received any injuries from the incident, the boy told the court: "The following day I was getting ready to have a bath and I hadn't really noticed it but my mum was like what's wrong with your body and there were bruises all over my neck."

A directorate of professional standards (DPS) investigation was launched after the CCTV footage was reviewed of the youngster being brought into custody.

Rea, who is ranked as a Sergeant, is currently suspended from duty.