A POLICE officer punched a woman in the face after she had kicked him in the groin, picked up a 'wooden baton' and made a 'gouging motion' to his face.

Laura Jeynes denies assaulting an emergency worker, PC Nick Garth, at her home in London Road, Worcester.

The trial of the 32-year-old defendant, which is expected to last until tomorrow or Thursday, began at Worcester Crown Court today (Tuesday).

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John Brotherton, prosecuting, opened the case and PC Garth was examined and cross-examined following the alleged attack on January 17.

Police body-worn video footage of the incident and other mobile phone footage was also played to the jury, showing the struggle between the 6ft 6ins officer and the 5ft1ins defendant. During the course of the incident, the officer's camera was dislodged.

PC Garth attended the address alone (single crewed) after reports that Jeynes had assaulted a woman inside, arriving at around 11.25am.

He described Jeynes as 'removing property from that address and throwing it outside' and said he had been trying to 'de-escalate the situation'.

PC Garth said Jeynes told him that a woman had been stealing items from her room, including photographs. The officer referred to Jeynes as 'animated' and that she 'appeared quite angry and frustrated'.

"When I tried to get more specific details she told me it was none of my business and told me to leave," he told the jury.

Video footage shows the officer starting to make the arrest at this point, repeating the caution before attempting to apply handcuffs.

However, he said she was 'not compliant'.

"I took hold of her arms and she said 'get off me!' and screamed. The defendant picked up what I would describe as a wooden baton," he said.

The defence case is that it was a spindle from the bannister which was fragile.

The officer described Jeynes gripping the item 'as if to swing' although he accepted that she had not done so and she denies doing so. He described taking her to the floor in the hallway.

During the struggle he described her grabbing his stab vest as he tried to remove her hands from the vest.

"She was also kicking me in the groin area," he said, telling the jury she had done this 'several times.'

He also referred to her reaching towards his face with her fingers splayed. "I would describe it as a gouging action," he said.

He added: "I punched her to the face. I used a clenched fist to strike her to the face, to distract her."

PC Garth said he had done this just once and had not used full force but accepted her head had gone backwards and hit a clothes airer.

The trial continues.