POLICE officer Kieran Jones was today fighting to save his career as he tries to overturn a conviction for punching a 15-year-old boy he was arresting.

The 30-year-old constable has already been convicted of assaulting Shane Wood by beating.

But Jones has always denied punching the teenager in his left eye after arresting him following a disturbance in Bentilee.

Jones, from Talke Road, Alsager, was suspended from duty after being convicted at Birmingham Magistrates Court in December.

He received a 12-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, with 200 hours' unpaid work, and was ordered to pay £350 compensation and £625 court costs.

Now the Staffordshire Police bobby, who was based at Hanley, is aiming to overturn his conviction and sentence.

Birmingham Crown Court heard that Jones and a female officer had been called to a confrontation between Mr Wood's group and another party on October 20, 2007.

Raj Punia, for the Crown Prosecution Service, said Jones had already asked Mr Wood to take his Alsatian dog indoors when he came back outside.

She said: "Jones went to him, grabbed him by the scruff of the neck, and appeared to throw him to the floor.

"He then handcuffed him and walked him to his car. Mr Wood felt a blow to his left eye."

Mr Wood, who is now 17 and had drunk two cans of Stella and possibly taken cannabis on the night, told the appeal: "PC Jones came over and was shouting towards the group I was in.

"He picked me up by my jumper, threw me to the floor and handcuffed me.

"He then pushed my head forwards and from there to the squad car he hit me in the face.

"My left eye was struck."

Witness Victoria Osbourne told the court that Mr Wood deserved to be arrested.

But she was adamant Jones punched Mr Wood.

She said: "The officer came across the street, barged into the group and sent me flying.

"I saw the officer punch Shane in the face."

She added: "The female officer said 'He was warned'."

Sergeant Paul Withington, who booked in Mr Wood at the Northern Area Custody Facility in Etruria, told the court: "I asked him if he had been assaulted by one of his mates. He replied 'No, it was one of your mates'."

Jones was due to give evidence today.

The appeal continues.