A HAMPSHIRE police officer crashed while taking a prisoner to a police station late at night, Southampton magistrates heard.

The accident happened when Pc David Hindle lost control of a Transit van on a bend. It went across the road, hitting the verge and turning over.

The vehicle suffered extensive damage to its offside and roof, and the windscreen also came out. Colleagues used a crowbar to force their way into the rear of the vehicle to free the prisoner who had been arrested for allegedly causing actual bodily harm. Pc Hindle, a woman special constable and the arrested man were all taken to hospital in Basingstoke for treatment.

Prosecutor Adrian Lower alleged the officer caused the crash - which happened on December 23, last year, on the Basingstoke to Alton road - by driving too fast in wet and windy conditions.

Hindle, 36, who lives at Tisbury, near Salisbury, denies careless driving.

He described how he had volunteered to take the prisoner to Alton because the cells at Basingstoke were full. He did not know the road well, but was not speeding.

He claimed a combination of circumstances caused the crash. He said the special constable had the interior light on so she could write up notes, and he was repeatedly looking over his shoulder to check on the prisoner who was being "difficult''. The officer said "everything happened so quickly" and he did his best to correct the situation after the back of the van veered towards the centre of the road.

The case was adjourned for the officer to give evidence on December 12.