A WITNESS in the trial of a Suffolk Pc accused of assaulting a teenager claimed the officer “chucked” the boy to the floor before breaking his arm.Robbie Croft's arm was fractured in three places in the incident and the boy's friends said he was left “screaming in pain.

A WITNESS in the trial of a Suffolk Pc accused of assaulting a teenager claimed the officer “chucked” the boy to the floor before breaking his arm.

Robbie Croft's arm was fractured in three places in the incident and the boy's friends said he was left “screaming in pain.”

Stephen Warne, 45, a Felixstowe based officer, was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm following the incident on September 16 last year.

The community police officer was not in uniform on the day and was talking to a group of youngsters near to the town's pier when Robbie approached him from behind and took a pen from his pocket.

Some bits of paper fell out of the constable's pocket and Robbie went to pick them up.

Warne then turned to apprehend the youngster, who suffers from a brittle bone disorder.

Not realising the identity of the youth, Warne warned him, grabbed Robbie's wrist and elbow and forced his arm behind his back, causing it to break.

The defence claim Robbie fell to the floor as a result of the break.

Warne has known the youngster for some time and was aware of his condition but did not know who he was apprehending until after the incident.

The Pc is well-known among the town's youths and previously helped set up a youth club which Robbie attended.

Jared Roelle, 15, who gave evidence at yesterday's hearing at Norwich Crown Court, described him as “an all right copper” and said “everyone has a joke with Steve (Warne).”

It was while enjoying friendly banter with the youngsters that Robbie snuck up from behind and reached into the officer's pocket.

Speaking in court yesterday Robbie's friends Jared Roelle, Dayle Collins, 15, and Kieran Goodall, 16, said they had heard the snap of the bone when the youngster was already on the floor.

Kieran said: “He chucked him to the floor and then twisted his arm.”

Simon Spence, defending, questioned if the subject of compensation has arisen following the break to Robbie's arm.

Robbie said: “It was me, I asked my dad (if I would get compensation). He said 'most certainly'.”

Mr Spence asked if the matter had been discussed in the ambulance to which Robbie replied: “I might have mentioned it in the ambulance but I very much doubt it.”

The trial continues.