A PRISONER feared a policeman would break his neck, a court has heard.

David Shepard, 22, said Sgt David Joseph and other officers attacked him while he was in custody at Basildon police station.

Mr Shepard was arrested last February for abusing a kebab van worker on Basildon's Festival Leisure Park.

He told Chelmsford Crown Court he was attacked while being escorted to a cell.

He said: "I was punched in the face. Before reaching the cell, I got a second punch."

In the cell, Mr Shepard said four officers, including Joseph and Sgt Anthony Bryan, held him down, while Joseph twisted his head.

He said: "It felt like it was going to break my neck."

The court was told Mr Shepard was abusive after being arrested.

Joseph, 50, denies causing actual bodily harm and perverting the course of justice by falsifying custody records.

Bryan, also 50, denies causing ABH and a charge relating to his failure to protect Mr Shepard or report Joseph's alleged misconduct.

The trial continues.