Officer charged with assault at G20 protest

(PA)

A police sergeant has denied assaulting a woman during G20 protests, writes Martha Linden.

Sergeant Delroy Smellie, 47, of Clapham, south-west London, pleaded not guilty to a charge of common assault by beating Nicola Fisher in the City of London on 2 April. Ms Fisher was allegedly hit by him during protests that marked the summit of world leaders in London.

Sgt Smellie, who was dressed in a dark suit and mauve tie when he appeared yesterday at City of Westminster magistrates' court in central London, was released on unconditional bail by District Judge Daphne Wickham. A trial date has been set for 22 March next year.

Ms Fisher had been at a vigil for 47-year-old Ian Tomlinson, who died the previous day, when the alleged incident took place at the Royal Exchange Square.