PC Christopher Jude has been cleared of launching a horrific attack on a suspect during a drugs raid.

The 27-year-old was found not guilty of grievous bodily harm by a jury at Preston Crown Court yesterday afternoon, Wednesday.

He told the trial he hit the man four or five times' in self-defence, leaving the suspect with a broken arm and a severe cut to his head.

The Merseyside police officer was also found not guilty of perverting the course of justice over allegations he bullied his colleagues into backing up his version of events.

PC Jude, an officer of seven years, was cleared by the jury of six men and six women after a six-week trial.

He described himself as "something of a gentle giant'', according to the judge, and lives with a partner and her child.

He had been the lead officer on more than 200 drugs warrants and was said to be a powerful man of 19 stone.

He told the trial he was attacked first and slashed with a knife by the suspect - long-time drug addict Anthony Bosanquet.

His defence said Mr Bosanquet and his brother, who also lived at the flat in the Everton area of Liverpool, were completely unreliable' witnesses with long-criminal histories.

Three other officers on the raid, PCs Steven McGhee, Garry Doolan and Peter Gannon, were found not guilty of misconduct and making false statements after the prosecution alleged they watched the attack and then lied about it.

They said they either froze, told PC Jude to stop, or did not see an attack. PCs McGhee and Gannon both told the trial PC Jude used excessive force, and that he intimidated them into giving statements supporting him, Another officer on the raid, probationery PC Michelle Grant, had made a complaint about the raid after she claimed she saw PC Jude attack the suspect while the other officers stood around'.

A court order bars the reporting of all the defendants' addresses.

The trial heard one family who is heavily active in the area of the raids, and that they had offered people £200 to make complaints against officers. PC Doolan was told there was a contract out on his life.

A spokesman for Merseyside Police said: "Merseyside Police takes all allegations of misconduct extremely seriously and is committed to investigating all allegations thoroughly.

"Consideration will now be given to the lifting of the suspensions of the officers. And the force will also consider any misconduct issues and how they will be addressed."

sbailey@guardiangrp.co.uk