A North Wales Police officer is to appear before Caernarfon magistrates’ court in the new year over an alleged assault, the police watchdog announced today.

An investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has led to PC Richard Williams facing charges of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and non-fatal strangulation. 

Mr Williams is due in court on January 4 on the charges, which relate to the degree of force he used while arresting a man in the garden of a property in Porthmadog on May 10.

The police watchdog opened an investigation after footage widely shared on social media showed the officer with his arm around a man’s neck while appearing to hit his face.

The incident happened after police were called to a report of a disturbance.

On the way to the police station, the man appeared to become unwell and was given first aid, the IOPC said

He was then taken by ambulance to hospital before being returned to police custody.

The IOPC said it had examined police body-worn video camera, phone and CCTV footage and taken witness statements, including from the injured man.

The investigators sent a file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service in November, which then authorised the charges against the officer.

Mr Williams remains suspended from duty by North Wales Police.

The second officer who attended the incident was also investigated for her actions by the IOPC and a misconduct meeting for her is to be arranged by the force.