A 24-year-old former PCSO has appeared in court charged with perverting the course of justice.

Thomas Rowland is accused of providing an untrue witness statement in criminal proceedings against Lawrence Best which said he had been punched by him.

The charge is indictable only and must be heard at a crown court.

The alleged incident happened in Taunton, Somerset, last September when Rowland was a PCSO in the Avon and Somerset force.

Rowland, whose address on court papers was given at the police station at Shuttern, Taunton, but who lives in Wellington, was granted unconditional bail.

Exeter Magistrates Court heard Rowland intends to deny the charge and the case was sent to Exeter Crown Court for a hearing next month.