A US AIR Force policeman assaulted a woman after she tried to look at his mobile phone because she thought he had filmed her in the shower, a court has heard.

The woman had confronted Darin Ham and asked to see video footage on his phone and had refused to give it back to him, Ipswich Crown Court was told.

The woman had tried to call the police and Ham had taken hold of her wrist and during the tussle that followed the woman had gone backwards into a cupboard door, said Charles Myatt, prosecuting.

Ham, 23, of Clare Close, Mildenhall, admitted assault by beating on November 20 last year and was fined �100 and ordered to pay �100 compensation to the victim. He was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of �15 and �85 costs.

He denied a charge of voyeurism and a not guilty verdict was entered on the court record after the prosecution offered no evidence on that charge.

Sentencing Ham, Judge John Holt said what happened on the day in question was “a prank that went horribly wrong”.

He said Ham was a veteran of Afghanistan and had received recognition for his services.

Cathy McCulloch, for Ham, said her client was a US Air Force police officer and his career could be at risk because of his conviction.