A TUG boat captain collapsed and died after his wife was assaulted by a police officer who barged into his house, a court was told today.

A FELIXSTOWE tug boat captain collapsed and died after his wife was assaulted by a police officer who barged into his house, a court was told today.

Southend Magistrates' Court heard that Pc Gary Jay went to investigate shouting coming from a terraced house in Clacton in June last year.

The 41-year-old, who denies two counts of assault, entered the property and accused Ronnie O'Reilly, who had worked at Felixstowe since the age of 16, of breaching the peace.

His wife Moira said she was pushed three times by Jay, who forced his way past her after she opened the front door.

Jay then pushed her 48-year-old husband, she said.

A short time later, Mr O'Reilly, who was born and bred in Felixstowe, collapsed to the ground gasping for breath, as Jay looked on watching with his “arms folded”, Mrs O'Reilly said.

She told the court post mortem tests revealed her husband was suffering from heart disease.