A GWENT police officer is on trial after being accused of biting a man’s lip outside a Cardiff nightclub.

Detective Constable Stephen Smith, of Gwent Police, appeared in Cardiff Crown Court yesterday charged with unlawful wounding and perverting the course of justice.

The 33-year-old police officer, from Dukestown, Tredegar, denies both charges — the second of which relates to a series of Facebook messages following the incident.

A jury of twelve heard the alleged assault happened on March 12 last year outside Brewhouse, in St Mary’s Street, Cardiff, as fans flocked to watch the Six Nations England vs Wales clash at Twickenham.

CCTV footage, shown to the jury, showed a large queue gathering outside the venue when an altercation breaks out between two men.

Following the incident, Smith is seen in a Wales jersey walking away from the scene with his girlfriend before being detained and arrested by police.

Several witnesses were questioned by counsel, including complainant Jonathan Harris who said he received scarring in the incident.

Andrew Taylor, defending Smith, questioned Mr Harris on whether cocaine use was a “partial contributor” to the incident. Harris denied this.

Defence council also argued that the complainant “jumped the queue” to the club and when challenged by Smith, allegedly “taunted” his girlfriend which “escalated that incident”.

When questioned, Harris admitted that he had been drinking heavily and “couldn’t remember the exact conversation” and denied he was “loud and obnoxious” rather than a “aggressor”.

Recalling the incident, he added: “I would never even think of biting someone. It’s an absolutely disgusting thing to do […] it’s like spitting in someone’s face”.

Written statements by two medical professionals, called by prosecutor Owen Williams, concluded injuries were a “human bite” to the lower lip.

A member of door staff from the adjacent Kapu cocktail bar and several South Wales Police officers who were on patrol during the night were also called as witnesses.

Sgt Simon Davies, of Cardiff Central Police Station, said that Smith was “quite shocked” when approached by police and was “keen to move away from the area”.

When asked about what happened, the officer recalls Smith saying “what do you mean, that guy started on my missus”.

The court heard, all witnesses were unable to recall the exact subject of the conversation which led to the fight.

Facebook messages, read in court, also involved a conversation between Smith and a profile under the name of the complainant Jonathan Harris, discussing settling the case out of court for £1,000.

Mr Harris, denies writing the messages sent to Smith’s Facebook profile which suggest the complainant also bit Smith and was “coked up” on the night of the incident.

The case continues.