A MAN broke free from handcuffs then smashed them into a police constable s face, magistrates heard on Tuesday. Prosecuting, Francesca Devine explained that police officers went to Ely city centre after seeing a man acting suspiciously on CCTV. They appro

A MAN broke free from handcuffs then smashed them into a police constable's face, magistrates heard on Tuesday.

Prosecuting, Francesca Devine explained that police officers went to Ely city centre after seeing a man acting suspiciously on CCTV.

They approached Peter Stirling, 27, near the Balti King on Market Street because they believed he had been taking drugs.

Mrs Devine said: "Mr Stirling was very aggressive, his eyes were bulging and his friends had to hold him back. He swore at the police officers and after a struggle they searched him and found drugs on him."

She added: "The officers put handcuffs on Mr Stirling but he somehow managed to break his right hand free and hit a police constable in the face with the cuffs on his left hand. The constable went to hospital to get his right eye stitched up.

"It was only after officers threatened Mr Stirling with CS spray that they managed to handcuff him again and arrest him."

Stirling, of Tudor Lodge, Welney, pleaded not guilty to assaulting a police constable.

He received unconditional bail and will be back in court for a pre-trail review on September 18.