A police officer is accused of “choking” a 15-year-old when she was accused of attempting to dodge a London Overground fare, a court has heard.
PC Adrian Young, 47, has been charged with assault by beating over the incident at Camden Road station last September.
The British Transport Police officer says the force he used was “proportionate” and he denies choking the girl, Westminster magistrates court heard.
Prosecutor David Burns said the incident unfolded on September 22 last year when the alleged victim reached the station barriers and there was a dispute over fare payment.
“She asked the station staff to let her through, there was an issue in relation to payment”, he said.
“When they refused, she forced her way through the barrier.
“PC Young was off-duty at the time, he has seen the offence, and he has allegedly taken hold of the complainant and assaulted her while doing so.”
On Wednesday, Young appeared in the dock to plead not guilty to the assault charge.
The PC is part of BTP’s London Overground Tasking Team, and faces criminal proceedings after an Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) investigation.
When revealing initial details of the charge on Monday, the IOPC said: “The charge relates to an incident on 22 September 2024 involving a 15-year-old girl who had passed through the ticket barriers at Camden Road overground station. During an altercation, the officer allegedly used excessive force to detain the child.
“Our investigation began after BTP referred a complaint in October from a witness to the incident. In March 2025, we sent a file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service, who authorised the charge.”
The court heard the alleged victim and another 15-year-old girl are set to give evidence against Young at his trial.
Large parts of the incident and the alleged assault have also been captured on CCTV and are expected to be played as part of the trial.
District Judge Briony Clarke freed the officer on unconditional bail until a trial over two days starting on October 7.
Young, who lives in Spalding, Lincolnshire, spoke only to confirm his identity and pleas during the hearing.
