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One of the officers accused of gross misconduct after a man died in the back of a locked police van has defended his decision not to seek medical attention for the casualty.

PC Jonathan Tench was monitoring handcuffed Adrian McDonald after the suspect had been Tasered and twice bitten by a police dog inside a Chesterton flat.

The 34-year-old, who lived in Stoke-on-Trent, pleaded for water and complained about struggling to breath before he suffered a fatal cardiac arrest in the police van outside the flats complex.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) - which has brought the gross misconduct case against PC Tench and colleagues Sergeant Jason Bromley and Inspector Richard Bills - suggested the bobby believed Adrian was putting on a 'ruse' before he tried to escape.

PC Tench told the Stafford tribunal: “I have known of people say things for that chance to escape or assault officers. I did not believe any medical attention was required up until the point paramedics were called.

“I did not think that he was not breathing but I wanted to check on him and thought that the safest way of doing that would have been with a colleague.

“I did my best for Mr McDonald and I believe I did that. I was satisfied Mr McDonald was breathing and that his chest was going up and down.

“He was relaxing and getting comfortable and there were no alarm bells to me. I thought Mr McDonald was relaxing and getting comfortable in the back of the van ready for the journey to custody. I did not think it was a medical emergency at that time.”

Staffordshire Police descended on the Audley Road flat after receiving a 999 call in December, 2014. Police discharged their Tasers on four occasions and he was bitten on the arm and leg by a police dog.

In his evidence, Sgt Bromley said: “Officer Tench is a competent experienced officer who was left with Mr McDonald. He is Taser trained and he would have known Mr McDonald needed a medical assessment at the custody suite."

All three officers deny the charge. The tribunal continues.