A FELIXSTOWE policeman needed seven staples in a cut to his head after a late night struggle with two men in the town it was alleged.Pc Timothy Cohen struck his head on a concrete post or the ground as he went to the aid of a fellow officer who was trying to arrest a man in an alleyway near the Ordnance roundabout in Felixstowe, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

A FELIXSTOWE policeman needed seven staples in a cut to his head after a late night struggle with two men in the town it was alleged.

Pc Timothy Cohen struck his head on a concrete post or the ground as he went to the aid of a fellow officer who was trying to arrest a man in an alleyway near the Ordnance roundabout in Felixstowe, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

Lindsay Cox prosecuting alleged that Pc Cohen had tried to pull 18-year-old Mark Smith away from the policeman who was trying to arrest one of Smith's friends.

Smith had struggled violently and was helped by Richard Higgins, also 18, who grabbed hold of Pc Cohen's arm and tried to free Smith, alleged Mr Cox.

Pc Cohen had fallen over while holding Smith and had suffered a cut to his head.

Higgins was eventually restrained and taken to a police van after being sprayed with CS gas and being struck on the thigh with a police baton.

Smith was also detained after a struggle said Mr Cox.

Smith, of Gulpher Road, Felixstowe, has denied wounding Pc Cohen with intent to resist arrest.

Higgins, of Gosford Way, Felixstowe has denied wounding Pc Cohen with intent to prevent Smith's arrest.

Both defendants also deny a joint charge of unlawfully wounding Pc Cohen.

After his arrest Smith claimed he had been drunk and could remember little about the incident.

He claimed he had been the victim of assault by the police officers.

Higgins claimed that police had jumped onto Smith for no apparent reason.

He denied trying to stop officers from arresting Smith.

The trial continues.