A man was robbed in an Ipswich park by a gang of five men after tripping over a fence as he tried to run away from them, it has been alleged.

Christopher Hynes had caught a late night train from his home in Manningtree to Ipswich to meet 21-year-old Liam Vinyard who owed him money, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

As Mr Hynes and Vinyard walked through Gippeswyk Park on their way to Coltsfoot Road, where Vinyard lived they were joined by 21-year-old Dominic Carpenter, said Michael Crimp, prosecuting.

Mr Hynes had regarded Vinyard and Carpenter as friends but when three other men joined them in the park Mr Hynes realised he had been “set up” and tried to run away.

As did so he tripped over a fence and fell to the ground. “The others caught up with him and all five set about him and somebody took his mobile phone, keys and a bank card,” alleged Mr Crimp.

After the men ran off Mr Hynes borrowed a phone from a student who stopped to see if he was all right and called the police.

Officers who went to an address in Coltsfoot Road found Carpenter and Vinyard there and recovered Mr Hynes’ bank card and keys but not his phone.

Mr Crimp said the defendants admitted being in the park with Mr Hynes but denied being involved in the robbery. They also denied having anything to do with the keys and the bank card recovered by police.

Vinyard and Carpenter have denied robbing Mr Hynes on July 26 last year.

Mr Crimp described the incident as “ a mean little mugging”.

Mr Hynes told the court that he suffered a fractured rib and bruising to his face and back as a result of the incident.

The trial continues today (Wed).