A police officer grabbed an 18-year-old girl by the head and threatened to rip her skull, a court heard.

Pc Jason Hanvey, 37, is one of four officers and a Greater Manchester Police employee on trial accused of assaulting and threatening two teenage girls.

CCTV shown at Manchester Crown Court showed Pc Hanvey grabbing Amy Keigher, then 18, while shouting ‘move and I’ll rip your ******* skull’.

He then demanded that she said ‘pretty please’ before he released her.

Pc Hanvey, civilian detention officer Kristina Hawkins, 36, Pc Kenneth Wilson, 41, Pc Kerry Williams, 24, and Sgt Andrew Kennedy, 51, all deny misconduct in public office.

Nicholas Williams, prosecuting, told the court how Miss Hawkins, Pc Williams and Pc Wilson applied arm holds to Miss Keigher’s tearful friend Jamie Lee Hall, who was also 18 at the time, even though she showed ‘no signs of physical aggression’.

Mr Williams said they were ‘treated in a manner which fell far below what the public is entitled to expect from a police officer.’

Sgt Andrew Kennedy, who was in charge of the custody desk, is accused of looking on while his officers used ‘unlawful physical force’ in restraining the two girls as they were searched at Collyhurst police station.

He is also accused of failing to notify either of them why they were being held or their rights, and of refusing Miss Keigher a phone call. Sgt Kennedy is then said to have made false entries in the custody log.

The 18-year-old girls were taken to the station after being arrested at Portland Street in the city centre on suspicion of assault in the early hours of October 30, 2008. The pair have since admitted assault.

The court heard that Miss Hall, showed ‘no signs of physical aggression’ at the custody desk when she was brought in from a van.

However, Miss Hawkins is said to have applied an arm restraint which left Miss Hall’s arm pointing to the ceiling while shouting ‘it’s going to be a long night’. As Miss Hawkins searched the teenager Pc Wilson and Pc Williams raised each of her arms, making her cry and say ‘you’re gonna break my arm’.

When she pleaded to be let go, Sgt Kennedy is alleged to have said ‘you’ll learn the hard way’.

The court heard Miss Keigher was ‘compliant’ when brought to the custody desk.

But Pc Wilson took hold of her ‘around the back of the neck’ before pushing her head forward.

When the girl told the officer he was ‘pathetic’, PC Hanvey is alleged to have grabbed hold of her head and held it down on the custody desk while saying ‘shut up, get your head down, move and I’ll rip your ******* skull’.

Miss Keigher later made a complaint and was examined by a doctor who noted ‘extensive bruising’ to her arms.

Miss Keigher and Miss Hall have both said they don’t wish to pursue the complaint, but GMP decided to take action after seeing the footage.

Proceeding