A policeman was attacked by a teenage girl as he tried to handcuff her friend, a court heard.

The 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was among a group of youngsters outside Lexden Primary School in Colchester, Harwich magistrates heard.

Tom Bragge, prosecuting, said the incident on August 23 started when PC Ian Ross was called to the school in Collingwood Road, Colchester, where a group of youngsters were spotted with alcohol.

He confiscated beer from John Stone, 19, and told the group to leave, but was met with shouted abuse.

The court heard the group ran up Trafalgar Road and PC Ross followed, colliding with Stone.

The officer placed Stone on the ground and tried to handcuff him, before calling for back-up.

PC Ross told the court: 'I was attacked by the girl from behind. It took me by surprise. She began screaming and had me in a head lock and was trying to pull me away from Stone.'

Stone, of Collingwood Road, Lexden, said the group were verbally abusive to the officer but the girl attacked PC Ross because she thought he was being hurt.

He told the court: 'I wasn't in pain until he handcuffed me. My hands were behind my back. He pushed my hands up and that was causing the pain. It really hurt.'

The girl said: 'I told him to stop. It was obvious the officer was hurting him.'

Stone denied a charge of resisting a police officer. The teenage girl denied charges of using threatening behaviour, assaulting a police officer and criminal damage.

Magistrates found both guilty of all charges.

The 17-year-old girl was given unconditional bail until sentencing at youth court.

Stone was granted unconditional bail until January 10 for pre-sentence reports to be made.

Published Tuesday, December 17, 2002

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