Shocking footage has emerged showing a Spanish police officer karate kicking a suspect twice in the face.

The jaw-dropping incident, which took place in a police station in Majorca, shows a group of policemen searching the man, a suspected drink driver, before one of the officers loses his cool.

In the police CCTV, the 41-year-old is seen kicking the handcuffed suspect with his left foot then his right as he sits in a chair.

The shock video emerged on Wednesday after the unnamed officer admitted at a court in Palma to carrying out the attack.

He told the court he had "lost his nerves" when the suspect allegedly threatened to "slice up his daughter", newspaper Diario del Mallorca reported.

The officer is said to have added he knew he was being filmed and has since apologised to the victim.

"It wasn't the right behaviour. It wasn't the sort of behaviour a policeman should display," he reportedly said.

He now faces up to four years in prison if convicted.

Another police officer denies moving the camera after realising the attack was being filmed on CCTV.

The suspect denies insulting or threatening any police officers.