A police officer "deliberately lied" in a witness statement claiming a man had behaved in an "extremely abusive" way, a court has heard.



Police Constable David Norman made the false statement after being called to a dispute between neighbours in Milford Haven, Swansea Crown Court was told.



The 52-year-old is accused of one count of carrying out an act tending or intending to pervert the course of justice.



Prosecutor John Hipkin said Richard Roberts was arrested by Norman for a public order offence and that Norman later wrote a statement alleging that Mr Roberts had behaved in an "extremely abusive" manner.



Mr Hipkin said: "The Crown say that PC Norman was caught out in that because Richard Roberts had CCTV on his home which was not only visual recording but also audio recording CCTV.



"In short, the Crown say that PC Norman, a serving police officer, had lied in his witness statement and that must have been with intent to pervert the course of justice."



Norman, of Kensington Gardens, Haverfordwest, denies the offence.

Officers were called to Wentworth Close, in Milford Haven, which Mr Hipkin described as a "problem location" at 3.30pm on January 21 2016.



Norman, who worked for Dyfed-Powys Police, said in the witness statement he wrote later that day that he was aware of a "long-running neighbourhood" dispute at the location and that one of the men involved, Tony Craig, was arrested after saying that he had assaulted Mr Roberts.



The statement went on to say that Mr Roberts' behaviour became "extremely abusive, shouting and screaming".



Norman claimed Mr Roberts shouted "f****** a******s" during a "torrent of abuse" aimed at officers and members of the Craig family.

Mr Hipkin said: "That is false because the CCTV shows it to be false."



Norman went on to say that Mr Roberts shouted: "I am standing on my own f****** doorstep having a f****** fag. I don't smoke in this f****** house."



The court was shown CCTV of the incident and in it Mr Roberts said in a normal voice: "I am having a cigarette. I don't smoke in the house. You know that."



Mr Hipkin told the jury that the reason for the false witness statement might be found in what Norman later told investigating officers about Mr Roberts.



According to Mr Hipkin, he said: "I have been in situations with him before when he has been incredibly hostile to me and I have listened to him spouting out abuse and was shocked by his language."



Mr Hipkin added: "He thought Richard Roberts was full of vitriol and hate."



Mr Roberts was arrested despite asking Norman to watch CCTV of the incident to prove his innocence and spent two days in custody before being released on January 23, the court heard.



Mr Hipkin said all charges against Mr Roberts were dropped.



Norman said in an interview that everything he alleged Mr Roberts was liable for was a mistake.



Mr Hipkin said: "He was adamant that he had not done it deliberately nor had he intended to pervert the course of justice."



Norman added that he was having personal problems at the time of the incident.



The trial continues.