A POLICE officer felt a push in his back before falling down some stone steps outside the house where he had just arrested Stuart Sedgwick.

Blackburn magistrates heard that as the officer landed with his back against a wall, Sedgwick landed on his chest and the officer immediately felt a pain shooting up into his neck.

Sedgwick, 33, of Bombay Street, Blackburn, was convicted of police assault and the case was adjourned for pre-sentence reports.

The magistrates ordered Sedgwick to do 100 hours community service, put him on probation for six months and ordered him to pay £100 compensation and £250 costs. Elizabeth Reed, prosecuting, said police had been called to a house in Accrington Road where they were met by a female who said she had been assaulted by Sedgwick.

The officers could hear children crying upstairs but when Sedgwick opened the door he refused them entry.

A violent struggle ensued and Sedgwick had to be handcuffed before the officers could go and see to the children.

Kevin Preston, defending, said Sedgwick had maintained all along that he had stumbled and fallen into the officer accidentally.

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