A FORMER assistant chief constable of Essex Police is due to face a crown court trial after denying actual bodily harm following an alleged noisy neighbour dispute.

Lee Weavers, a high-ranking officer with Essex Constabulary until his retirement in 2000, today pleaded not guilty to having an offensive weapon and assault causing actual bodily on Ben Jarrett.

Ipswich Crown Court was told the trial will now take place in January. The charges relate to an alleged incident which is said to have occurred in Coprolite Street, Ipswich, at about 8pm on August 11.

Weavers is now managing director of Leema Risk Management in Angel Lane and Viking Mariners in Wherry Lane, Ipswich.