Pc 'attacked urinating French tourist' in London

A police officer assaulted a French tourist and left him needing hospital treatment after spotting him urinating in a bush, a court has been told.

Pc John Caulfield chased Charles Quichaud down the street before punching and kicking him as he lay on the ground, a jury heard.

The assault is alleged to have taken place near Hoxton Square in east London in August 2009.

Pc Caulfield denies a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Police chase

Southwark Crown Court heard Mr Quichaud, then 19, was on a three-week holiday in London and had been drinking in Hoxton Square.

On needing to urinate he headed for the bushes in a corner of the square where Pc Caulfield, who was on patrol, saw him.

Mr Quichaud fled to a nearby bar, chased by the officer, who then left, the court heard.

Prosecutor Philip McGhee said on emerging from the bar, the teenager noticed the officer and again ran, this time along a road and into a housing estate.

Giving evidence through an interpreter, Mr Quichaud said: "I was running... I didn't know where I was and then I remember being on the ground.

"I don't remember exactly how but I didn't fall of my own accord, I was pushed to the ground by the policeman.

"There were blows to my head, to my face. I'd never been hit before and I hope I will never be hit like that again."

'Simply defended himself'

Covered in blood, Mr Quichaud was handcuffed, arrested for urinating in a public place and taken to hospital in an ambulance, accompanied by Pc Caulfield, the court heard.

He received stitches and later underwent an operation on his nose, which was allegedly broken in the incident.

Earlier, Mr McGhee told the jury that local residents who witnessed the alleged attack initially mistook Pc Caulfield for a mugger but then realised he was a uniformed officer.

The police officer claimed he had been attacked by the tourist and had "simply defended himself", Mr McGhee said.

The case continues.

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