Police officer who smashed and sawed through car windscreen during Kentish Town arrest was ‘bully in uniform’, court hears
Pc Joshua Savage arrives at Southwark Crown Court to stand trial over allegations of common assault, possession of a bladed article, and criminal damage after allegedly being caught on camera attacking a suspect's car. Picture: Kirsty O'Connor/PA Wire - Credit: PA
A police officer acted like “a bully in uniform” as he smashed and sawed his way through a windscreen of a car he had stopped in Kentish Town, a court heard this morning.
Joshua Savage, 28, had stopped a black Ford Fiesta in Weddington Road, Kentish Town, on September 16.
The black Ford Fiesta was being driven by Leon Fontana, but police suspected he was TJ Dickson, jurors at Southwark were told.
According to a two-minute clip shown in court, when Mr Fontana refused to get out of the car and put his keys on the dashboard, Savage said: “You’re not allowed to drive. You’re disqualified.”
The court heard that, having received information that Mr Dickson might be violent, Savage started pulling at the window. The footage, recorded by Mr Fontana, showed the officer start smashing the windscreen with his baton.
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Fontaine can be heard shouting: “I have a licence. I have insurance.”
At this point, Mr Fontana got out of the car and was arrested by Savage’s colleague, Pc Richard Vincent Jones.
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Savage, of Wanstead, is charged with possession of a bladed weapon, common assault and criminal damage.
He has pleaded not guilty.
Addressing the jury, Jonathan Polney, prosecuting, said: “At the heart of the evidence is the footage.
“In that clip, he comes across as a bully in uniform.
“During the two-minute clip, did he once say ‘please’? Did he say ‘sir’? Did he show any courtesy?”
In his statement after the incident, Savage said he acted out of self defence.
The trial continues.
