A FORMER Avon and Somerset Police officer has been jailed for assaulting a teenage boy.

Adam Kitchener, 36, was sentenced to 14 weeks in prison after admitting attacking the 15-year-old in Bristol.

Kitchener pleaded guilty to common assault when he appeared at Bristol Magistrates' Courts today (Tuesday).

Supt Simon Wilstead, the force's head of professional standards, said: "Officers had been called to attend a report of a robbery in the Broad Quay area of Bristol in the early hours of Sunday, March 31.

"At around 4am, a 15-year-old boy was arrested in connection with this incident in Marsh Street.

"Today, former officer Adam Kitchener has admitted assaulting the teenager during the course of this arrest.

"The assault came to light following an internal complaint made by a colleague who witnessed the assault and a further complaint from the boy’s family.

"Mr Kitchener was suspended and the matter was referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), who carried out an independent investigation, resulting in him being charged with assault.

"This was a wholly unnecessary and unprovoked assault and on behalf of Avon and Somerset Police, I’d like to apologise to the victim and his family.

"Although the officer has since resigned, a special case misconduct hearing will be held at police headquarters in due course, which will be chaired by Chief Constable Andy Marsh."

IOPC regional director Catrin Evans said: “Police officers should only use force when necessary, proportionate and reasonable in the circumstances.

“We carried out a thorough investigation after complaints were made about a 15-year-old boy being kicked in the face by former PC Kitchener during an arrest.

"The evidence strongly suggested the level of force used by the officer was disproportionate.”