Olympic hero Paddy Barnes claims he was forced to endure a body search and abusive language by a police officer who was hunting for a mobile phone thief.

Barnes claimed he was called a 'd***head' by the PSNI officer who grabbed him as he left a shop in north Belfast. The 21-year-old light-flyweight -- who won a bronze medal at the Beijing Games -- said he was told he would be "dropped" if he raised his arms.

"It was ridiculous and degrading. I'm going to make a formal complaint," said the boxer. The medalist said he feared the police officer would punch him or use pepper spray during the routine inquiry into a stolen mobile phone.

The 21-year-old, who has just picked up a Young Person of the Year award, said he believed the body search "seemed designed to provoke a reaction".

The incident occurred on Thursday when Barnes had gone shopping with friends in the city centre before returning to his home area of Newington.

As he entered a local shop the boxer was stopped by a police officer who claimed the 47kg boxer matched the description of a suspect wanted for the theft of a phone from a 14-year-old.

Barnes claims the officer grabbed him "very roughly" and pulled him onto the street. "I was told to stand still. Lots of people were watching. It was embarrassing. They all know what kind of person I am, but it was humiliating to be made out to look like a thug.

"I told him my name, address and phone number and I raised my hands so he could begin his search. But as soon as I did, he shouted at me. He said if I raised my hands like that again he would 'drop' me. He told me he didn't care who I was and called me a d***head.

"I thought he was going to hit me or pepper-spray me. He seemed really edgy, volatile and definitely was looking for a reaction," added Barnes.

The young boxer now plans to make a formal complaint about the treatment he received.