A FORMER policeman attacked a man with a police baton during a noisy neighbour dispute, it has been alleged.

Sixty-year-old Lee Weavers allegedly went to a block of flats in Duke Street, Ipswich, to complain about the noise from music being played at a barbecue on a balcony at around 8pm on August 11 last year, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

After banging at the door Weavers had allegedly opened the door and walked in and was met by 28-year-old Ben Jarrett who asked him to leave.

Giving evidence on the first day of Weaver’s trial Mr Jarrett told the court he didn’t recognise the man but saw he was holding a baton under his arm.

He said the man had refused to leave and had grabbed hold of him.

Mr Jarrett claimed that he ended up on the floor with the man on top of him holding the baton across his throat making it hard for him to breathe.

Mr Jarrett alleged that the man hit him with the baton on his head and claimed that after the incident he had coughed up blood and suffered friction burns on his elbows.

Weavers, of Coprolite Street, Ipswich, has denied having a police baton as an offensive weapon and assaulting Mr Jarrett causing him actual bodily harm.

John Farmer, prosecuting, said that Weavers claimed he had been acting in self-defence.

The trial continues .