A 28-year-old Indigenous man has told the ABC he was "terrified" and feared for his life saying he was repeatedly bashed by police at Toronto police station south of Newcastle on Australia Day last year.

Key points: Carl Hoppner alleges police officers used excessive force when he was in custody, making him feel "like an animal"

Carl Hoppner alleges police officers used excessive force when he was in custody, making him feel "like an animal" He has been jailed for headbutting and elbowing arresting officers and spitting blood-filled saliva on another

He has been jailed for headbutting and elbowing arresting officers and spitting blood-filled saliva on another During sentencing, Magistrate Alan Railton said police dealt with Hoppner extremely forcefully

CCTV footage obtained exclusively by the ABC shows officers allegedly kicking and punching him in the garage of the police station and again when he is taken from his cell by force.

Carl Hoppner pleaded guilty to headbutting and elbowing arresting officers and spitting blood-filled saliva on another, after being arrested for intimidating his wife, and drunken and aggressive behaviour.

"I was on the grog, I was out of hand, I did wrong, but wasn't expecting to be bashed," he told the ABC.

But Hoppner said the force used by officers afterwards was excessive, unreasonable or disproportionate to what he had done.

On Friday Magistrate Alan Railton sentenced Hoppner to 10 months' jail but took aim at the violent actions of police.

"Mr Hoppner was dealt [with] by police in an extremely forceful manner," Magistrate Railton told the Toronto Local Court.

A police officer is alleged to have kicked Carl Hoppner in custody. ( Supplied )

"The footage clearly shows the police using significant force in removing him from the truck and removing him from the cells. It also shows actions totally consistent with throwing punches."

CCTV footage obtained by the ABC shows seven officers, who are wearing gloves, surrounding the paddy wagon as Hoppner arrives at Toronto police station.

"They kick me in the head, punch me, another punch another kick, then they roll me over, drag me into the charge room," Hoppner told the ABC.

The CCTV vision shows Hoppner in the foetal position being dragged into a cell.

"I felt like an animal to them, I didn't feel human," Hoppner said.

Ten minutes later, Hoppner is shown being dragged from his cell.

The defence told the court the CCTV footage showed the 28-year-old receiving five blows to the head from officers, before being picked up and thrown back into the cell.

Hoppner's lawyer Self Rumbewas appealed to the magistrate to consider the alleged "police brutality" in sentencing his client.

Under the law, as an Indigenous person, Hoppner is considered vulnerable in custody.

Defence documents tendered in court refer to the "immense power imbalance between Mr Hoppner and the police" including several incidents involving six officers and bystanders.

Hoppner's lawyer told the court that in one incident captured on CCTV, his client was trying to protect his head as an officer's leg was in a "deliberate kicking motion".

It is the defence case that police stood in the way of CCTV cameras, that as Hoppner was being punched an "officer is standing in a position with the apparent purpose of obscuring any camera recording of the incident in a bid to an attempt to conceal the incident".

It is also alleged police officers laughed at Hoppner during the incidents, adding to his sense of indignity and isolation.

"When they pulled me up I seen [sic] this pool of blood thinking that is mine and then they just said, 'Happy Invasion Day you black c**t'," Hoppner told the ABC.

Police prosecutors did not contest that comment when Hoppner made it in court but in sentencing him, Magistrate Railton said the CCTV footage did not have audio and had been sent to the NSW Police Force's local area command for investigation.

Hoppner and his legal team are referring his treatment by police to the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission.

A NSW Police spokeswoman said an internal review of the matter had begun and it was inappropriate to comment further at this stage.