A TELFORD policeman accused of attacking a sleeping man as he lay in bed cuddling his baby today walked free from court after being cleared by a jury.

Constable Jason Swinney, 34, was acquitted of assaulting Mark Vick, causing him actual bodily harm, by punching him repeatedly in the face on April 18, 2009.

He denied the charge.

Following a six-day trial at Gloucester Crown Court, the jury of seven men and five women today took just half-an-hour to reach their verdict.

Constable Swinney had admitted punching Mr Vick about six times in the face as he lay in bed but said he did it only to make him release his nine-month-old son.

He denied that the punching continued after the baby had been taken from him.

Judge William Hart told the jury: “Thank you very much for your attention to this case. As you appreciate, it is an unusual case given the occupation of the defendant.

“But it is important perhaps that the message is clear that the police are the police and if there is an allegation that an officer has behaved in a way which amounts to a criminal offence he, like anyone else, will find himself being prosecuted and that’s what happened here.”

The jury was told that Constable Swinney was called to the house in Woodrows, Woodside, Telford, which Mr Vick shared with the baby’s mum, Katie Leddington, after a domestic incident.

Constable Swinney went into the bedroom with his colleague Constable Julie Gwilt where he found Mr Vick in bed with the baby.

The court heard Constable Swinney feared Mr Vick was tightening his grip around the baby’s throat and in danger of strangling him. He admitted punching Mr Vick but said he did it only for the protection of the baby and did not hit Mr Vick again after the child had been safely removed.

After he was acquitted today, he left court with two Police Federation officials who had accompanied him throughout the trial.

By Crime Correspondent Kirsty Smallman