AN Avon and Somerset Police officer has been found not guilty of causing actual bodily harm at Bristol Crown Court today (Friday).

PC James Clements, 31, denied the offence following an incident in December last year on the M5 slip road at Junction 14 in which a man sustained injuries.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct regional director South West Catrin Evans said: "We carried out a thorough investigation into the use of force following a complaint from the (injured) man’s family, which led to the Crown Prosecution Service deciding to bring charges.

"Our investigation also looked at the wider incident on the slip road involving a number of officers.

"Decisions on whether any of the officers involved may have a case to answer for any alleged breaches of standards of professional behaviour have yet to be taken."

It had been claimed in court that PC Clements had struck Michael Lee Quinn twice in the face with a Taser, causing his nose to bleed.

The court heard that a number of police cars had been following a van, which contained a number of men including Mr Quinn, along the motorway and items were seen being thrown from it.

The jury was told PC Clement gave an order to box the van in to force it to stop.

Mr Quinn, it was claimed in court, was seen shouting at PC Clements and saying he would "have him done", at which point the officer struck him again and attempted to Taser him in the van but the weapon failed to discharge properly.

Mr Quinn was then taken from the van by other officers.