A police officer who was caught on CCTV hitting and kicking a 15-year-old boy has been found guilty of assault.  

PC Declan Jones, 30, can be seen grappling with the teenager on a street in Newtown, Birmingham, just moments after wrongly accusing him of possessing drugs. 

The police officer then appears to floor him with a hit to the head and a kick on his body. 

Just a day earlier on April 20 last year, while Jones was on patrol during the first lockdown, he assaulted a cyclist. 

The West Midlands police officer was recorded pulling the 44-year-old man to the floor in Aston before punching and kicking him. He later pushed his face into the bonnet of a patrol vehicle. 

Footage of the attack on the 15-year-old was played to the court by prosecutors, who alleged Jones was annoyed the boy had run off. 

Jones told the court it was his ‘honest belief’ the teenager had made a downward movement with one of his hands, causing him to fear for his safety. 

But District Judge Shamim Qureshi told Jones the force used against the boy after he ‘stood in a surrender pose’ was totally unnecessary. 

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Describing the attack, the judge said Jones had initially bent the boy’s fingers back. 

Judge Qureshi added: ‘The next stage of this incident is shown on camera when (the youth) stops and stands with his hands wide open in the surrender pose. 

‘PC Jones then punches him to the ground, orders him to roll over onto his stomach and then kicks him, in my view like taking a free kick in football. 

‘PC Jones claimed that people have hidden weapons and even with their hands in the air or behind their head, they might reach for something. 

‘He said it was not safe to walk the streets of Handsworth and neighbouring areas.  

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‘After hearing PC Jones’s repeated justification of intelligence and high crime area for all his actions, I consider that PC Jones has a paranoia that everyone in a high crime area has concealed weapons all over their body and I query whether he was suited to this type of work in those areas.’ 

Jones was cleared of assaulting a third complainant who was punched in the face on April 23, when the officer was heard to say he did not believe in the virus. 

Judge Qureshi said Jones used ‘proportionate’ force during the third incident as colleagues struggled to detain a man wearing a stab-proof vest in Handsworth. 

Senior Crown Prosecutor Celia Thorpe said police officers ‘are not above the law’ after Jones was found guilty of two assaults. 

She said: ‘I do not underestimate the difficult, demanding and sometimes dangerous role of being a police officer patrolling our streets; however, in common with all members of society, police officers are accountable for their actions and are not above the law. 

‘Today’s verdicts demonstrate that the CPS will endeavour to bring cases to court where unlawful force is used and where it is in the public interest to do so.’ 

Deputy Chief Constable Vanessa Jardine added: ‘PC Jones’ use of force was totally inappropriate and it’s right that he has been held accountable by the court today.’ 

Jones was bailed for sentencing on September 10. 

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