A POLICE officer accused of deliberately pushing a motorcyclist off his bike has been cleared of two criminal convictions after the biker refused to co-operate with police in an appeal hearing.

PC Daniel Walker was convicted of assaulting Steven Oldroyd by pushing him the vehicle in Harrogate in March last year.

Mr Oldroyd fell and landed on the verge, but his motorcycle slid and hit a Honda Civic with a driving instructor and two girls inside.

PC Walker, of Skipton Police Station, insisted he did not make contact and was signalling a stop with his warrant card and arms raised.

He was convicted of common assault and criminal damage at Hull Magistrates' Court in November last year, fined £400 and ordered to pay costs and compensation.

Judge Jeremy Richardson QC told the appeal at Hull Crown Court yesterday: "It is not a case where we disbelieved the witnesses.

"We are disadvantaged by the motorcyclist not being here which is a key part of the case.

"The detail conduct of the motorcyclist is absent, what he did and why he did it.

"The man who could have helped us has deliberately absented himself.

"A warrant for his arrest has been issued and he will be dealt with in due course."