A police officer accused of attacking a motorist who died after he was dragged out of a car insisted he had landed two punches as 'distraction' blows, a jury heard yesterday.

Pcs Robin Shane, 31, and John Shatford, 32, allegedly assaulted petty criminal Robin Goodenough, 26, left, when he refused to move from the driver's seat of the Vauxhall Astra he had been driving.

Both officers deny assault causing actual bodily harm against Mr Goodenough.

Mr Goodenough suffered a heart attack a minute after being stopped by the officers in the centre of Oxford at just after midnight on September 27, 2003.

When the officers went back to the station they were spoken to by Supt Simon Chesterman who was making initial inquiries into the incident.

He decided that an independent police force should investigate the case, the Old Bailey heard.

In a statement read to the court, Supt Chesterman said at 3am he spoke to the officers in a conference room and told them an independent force was likely to be called in.

"I informed the officers it would be necessary to seize their uniformed and footwear for forensic evidence," he said.

Pc Shane then gave him an account of what had happened.

"Pc Shane said while Goodenough was refusing to get of the Vauxhall Astra he had punched him twice to the face," the inspector said.

"Pc Shane stated these two blows connected with the cheek and not his mouth.

"Pc Shane said these blows were intended as distraction blows as he was being uncooperative."

The Thames Valley Police officers claim they were acting in lawful self-defence and feared Mr Goodenough, of Brampton Road, Barton, Oxford, would drive the car at their colleagues.

An ambulance was called but Mr Goodenough was pronounced dead at John Radcliffe Hospital.

The case continues.