A MAN has denied injuring a police officer during an alleged scuffle at last year's Pride Glasgow.

Panagiotis Theodoropoulos, 24, has been accused of shouting, swearing and acting in an aggressive manner at the festival after a teenager was arrested for displaying a banner that had the word "faggot" written on it.

Theodoropoulos has pleaded not guilty to obstructing four constables in their line of duty by seizing hold of the boy and attempting to free him from custody and thereafter struggling violently with the officers, causing injury to one.

Last week, PC Samantha Campbell, 27, told Glasgow Sheriff Court that she was on parade control at Glasgow Green when she became aware of another group of people entering a nearby car park at around 11.50am.

She told fiscal depute Marie McCue that out of the thousands there, this group – of around 30 people – stood out.

She stated that they were not formed in a way to join the parade, adding: "Even the dress code was different.”

PC Campbell explained that the group were dressed in dark clothing and some had covered their faces in scarves – a look you would "associate with a right-wing group". She described the parade goers as colourful and glittery with "a very few with few pieces of clothing on".

The constable received a complaint from a member of the public in respect to a placard held up by one of the group members.

It stated: "These faggots fight fascists”.

PC Campbell noted: “She was unhappy that the word faggot had been used on the banner.”

The constable approached the young male holding the banner and made attempts to explain that someone was offended by it. However, the youngster continually hid behind others in the group in an effort to avoid the officer.

PC Campbell stated that the group "overreacted to police interaction" and immediately surrounded both her and her colleague, PC Lee Cameron.

She said: "There was constant shouting from everybody, but one stood out from everyone else.”

The officer then pointed to Theodoropoulos sitting in the dock.

PC Campbell claimed that the accused told the boy not to speak to the police, shouting something along the lines of: "Don’t give them your f****** details. Don’t give them f****** anything.”

Theodoropoulos' demeanour was described as "aggressive". PC Campbell alleged that the accused was "determined to remove the boy" and grabbed hold of the teenager.

She claimed that Theodoropoulos attempted to put his body between the PCs and the teenager and was warned to move back but was unresponsive.

PC Campbell stated: "I had to push him back because he was so close at this point and so aggressive. The only way to move him back was to push him.”

She added that she felt intimated, but could not remember what exactly was shouted.

Read more: Shy protesters miss mark at Glasgow Sheriff Court

In defence, Clare Ryan highlighted that the boy with the banner was 16-years-old and suffered from Asperger syndrome. Although arrested at the event, no further proceedings were brought against the teenager.

PC Campbell told the defence agent that the officers initially only wanted to speak to the youth, but could not get their point across due to the surrounding group members continually shouting.

Ms Ryan emphasised that there was no offence meant by the banner. It was not homophobic and instead the youth was re-claiming the word "faggot" as he himself was gay.

The constable claimed that no one within the group attempted to ask why they wanted to speak to the teen and no one explained that the banner was not homophobic.

PC Campbell stated that after receiving the complaint she had to be "seen doing something" and every time she tried to explain, she was continually shouted at or interrupted and was not getting anywhere.

Ms Ryan found it unbelievable that no one attempted to explain the banner.

She argued that Theodoropoulos, of Sandbank Drive, had not grabbed the boy, but instead simply put his arm out.

She claimed: "He was given no further warning and was simply grabbed by your colleagues.”

Ms Ryan stated that the officers did not take the time to speak to people there and "overreacted to a young boy with a placard".

She also asked PC Campbell why she visited the accused in custody and stated: "See you again."

The constable explained that she was a protest liaison officer and would most likely see him again at another event.

PC Cameron, 24, took to the stand next and backed up most of what his colleague had testified.

He stated that Theodoropoulos shouted "don't tell them f****** anything" to the young boy and attempted to pull him away.

The constable witnessed the accused in PC Campbell's personal space and described his demeanour as "aggressive".

However, PC Cameron admitted to Theodoropoulos' lawyer that there was a point where the constables were not surrounded by the group and could remember being asked by a female accompanying the boy why they wanted to speak to him. He could not recall the woman attempting to explain that the banner was not homophobic.

PC Jenna Minshull, 31, then gave evidence. She explained that both she and PC Marc Twaddle intervened when they spotted the accused interfering and attempting to pull the boy away.

She stated: "I know he was shouting, possibly swearing, but I can’t recall the exact words.

“He was very angry about the situation and aggressive.”

PC Minshull told the court that Theodoropoulos was taken to the ground and arrested after he failed to desist. She claimed that he resisted arrest by jerking his body from side-to-side and her hand was injured in the process.

Ms Ryan claimed her client did not shout at the constables and only jerked his arm away in reaction when the constable took him by the wrist. PC Minshull disagreed.

The incident is alleged to have taken place on Greendyke Street by Glasgow Green on August 19, 2017.

At the end of the Crown’s evidence, Ms Ryan claimed there was no case to answer and argued that the arrest was unjustified.

Sheriff Mackinnon disagreed and said there was sufficient evidence to proceed.

The trial will continue on April 13.