British Police manhandling a black boy by putting a mask round his head after an argument broke-out between him and his white girlfriend. However the girl is pleading with the police officers to stop

British Police manhandling a black man in UK

IK Aihie asked to see black police officer and has 'mesh guard' placed on him as officers intervened in a row he was having with partner in packed tube station

A man is pinned to the floor and muzzled by officers while his girlfriend pleads with police in a dramatic arrest at a London train station.

Video footage shot by a passerby shows 18-year-old IK Aihie being restrained by British Transport Police at London Bridge station after allegedly confronting officers who tried to intervene in the row he was having with his partner.

Mr Ihie being manhandled by British Police

Four policemen hold Mr Aihie to the floor as he howls in pain.

One of the officers can be seen pressing down hard on the teenager's head - before saying loudly "Don't spit at me, fella."

A few moments later, after Mr Aihie repeatedly requests to speak to a black police officer - a mesh known as a spit guard is placed over his head.

His girlfriend Jessica McConkey is seen arguing with a man in a hi-vis jacket, branding the treatment of her boyfriend "f***ing disgusting".

As hundreds of bemused commuters file past the melee, some take photos and film footage on their phones.

Ms McConkey tells the crowd: "Are you filming this? Please film this, please.

"Honestly, he's a young black boy, he's had an argument with his girlfriend. That is it."

The video was posted on Facebook and quickly went viral.

The incident happened on the morning of July 21.

Mr Aihie was held overnight at a police station and given a caution under the Public Order Act.

A BTP spokesman told MailOnline: "The incident occurred shortly after 11.30pm when officers intervened in an argument between a man and a woman.

"The man then became aggressive towards the officers, at which point he was arrested.

"Whilst being held, he made a threat that he would spit at officers who then placed a spit guard on him.

"The man has since accepted a caution for an offence under Section 5 of the Public Order Act."

The spokesman added that a complaint by a member of the public in relation to use of excessive force is being investigated by the Professional Standards Department.

Writing on the Facebook video, both Ms McConkey and Mr Aihie gave their own versions of events.

Ihie's white girlfriend

Ms McConkey said: "We wasn't shouting or screaming, they heard me asking for my phone and jumped on him as if he had stolen it, what you don't see in this video is the activity that took place before.

"When we was asking why he was arrested, them refusing to tell us, and kicking him to the floor. I support the police and the work they do to protect us.

"But that was protecting it was them inflicting pain on an innocent boy because they were to ignorant to stop and listen to why was going on."

Ik Aihie: "We (Jessica and I) just had a little argument, I walked off then I got pounced on by the two officers at the front of video. Then backup was there before I could even say anything."