A 30-year-old man has been convicted after assaulting a police officer at Paddington train station, leaving him with "long-term physical problems".

PC Chris Best was forced to take four months off duty after being assaulted by Nicholas Daniel, 30 of Woodrow Avenue, Hayes , on November 4 2016.

The British Transport Police officer was carrying out a stop and search on Daniel at around 5.40pm when the 30-year-old struck him on the knee, causing him to fall on the ground.

The blow dislocated PC Best's right patellla, causing significant internal damage to his knee, which required surgery and took him out of action for four months.

Daniel was convicted of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and sentenced to 16 weeks imprisonment, suspended for two years, at Westminster Magistrates' Court on September 28.

He was also ordered to pay PC Best £300 in compensation and the Crown Prosecution Service a further £300 for costs and a £30 victim surcharge.

PC Best said: “This assault has left me with long-term physical problems.

"The pain caused by the injury was severe and I had to have surgery to remove a piece of loose cartilage that was ripped off my knee in the assault.

“There was absolutely no need for this situation to escalate in the way that it did.

"Daniel refused to answer basic questions from rail staff or police, and then became uncooperative and aggressive; leading to the assault and his subsequent arrest, during which he continued to resist officers.

“I am satisfied that Daniel has been found guilty of this offence and received punishment from the courts.”

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