A SERVING police officer pushed a 13-year-old girl out of his car when a group of men approached, a court heard.

Three Welsh men walked over to Geoffrey Alan Gough's car outside the Tesco store in Belmont, Hereford, after the teenager's 17-year-old friend asked them for help.

Mark Davis, who was returning to Merthyr Tydfil from a Leominster car auction with his son, Lee, and another friend, told Gloucester Crown Court Gough smelt of alcohol and acted in a "semi-violent" manner when he went to help the younger of the two teenagers on April 12 last year.

And Lee Davis, aged 27, said Gough pushed him when he tried to help the 13-year-old off the car park floor.

Gough told the father and son he was a serving police officer and that he was trying to get the girl home, the jury heard yesterday.

Lee Davis told the judge he did not believe Gough was telling the truth.

"I could not understand why a serving police officer would put himself in such a position with two minors who were intoxicated in Tesco car park," he said.

Mark Davis asked to see Gough's police identification and when the former detective produced his badge, Mr Davis questioned its authenticity.

When Gough was about to start driving away from Tesco, the 13-year-old was sitting in the front passenger seat with the door open, Mark Davis told the court.

"He then pushed her out and she landed on the floor," he added. "He then drove off quickly."

Earlier Gloucester Crown Court was told the two teenage girls had got into Gough's car on Commercial Road following a drunken night out with friends.

They had stolen a paramedic's bag from Hereford County Hospital and caused a nuisance in the Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant.

Gough met the girls near Hereford Gold and drove them to the supermarket where it is alleged he put his hand down the 13-year-old girl's underwear.

Gough, aged 55, of Spring Gardens, Malvern, denies sexual activity with a child and attempted kidnap.

The trial continues.