Officers charged with assault

THREE police officers will face charges of assault and conspiring to pervert the course of justice at Oldham Magistrates’ Court next week.

The criminal charges follow an Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) investigation into an incident in Wigan in July last year.

Sgt Stephen Russell, PC Richard Kelsall and Special Constable Peter Lightfoot are all based in Wigan. SC Lightfoot has also been summonsed to face a charge of perjury.

The charges relate to an allegation that excessive force was used during the arrest of 34-year-old Bolton man, Mark Aspinall, in Wigan town centre.

The IPCC managed the Greater Manchester Police investigation into the incident.

The three officers will appear before the court on July 15.