A police officer has denied assaulting a teenager with his baton while carrying out a stop and search.

Detective Constable Kevin Rowley appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Monday, November 11 charged with assaulting Tyrell Vassell by beating him.

DC Rowley is attached to the East Area Command Unit which covers the tri-borough area of Redbridge, Havering, and Barking and Dagenham.

The court heard Rowley had stopped Mr Vassell in Heath Park Road in Romford, east London, on April 22, and had hit him with his baton when he refused to comply with the search.

Video footage posted on social media appeared to show Rowley repeatedly striking a black male in handcuffs with his police baton while the male shouts: "I am a child... this is illegal. You can't do this."

Police said the incident had occurred following the arrest of a 17-year-old male on suspicion of possession of class B drugs.

Rowley, of Southend in Essex, was released on bail to attend Hendon Magistrates' Court for trial on January 23.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed that the officer, who is based at the East Area Command Unit, was currently on restricted duties.

The incident was referred to the police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

Ken Marsh, chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, said its legal team will be "vigorously defending" Rowley in court.

He added: "We are aware of the charge brought against our colleague DC Kevin Rowley in relation to an incident in Romford.

"What we can say is that in these testing times for Metropolitan Police officers, it is vital that there is not trial by social media - a short clip of an incident does not always tell the full story.

"And we would remind that everyone has a right to a fair trial."