A Cirencester police officer was violently attacked and left concussed by a man who tried to stop her arresting his brother, a court heard.

William Randall’s brother was being arrested in Cheltenham and was having to be restrained by officers when PC Sarah Crawford was assaulted, the prosecution told Cheltenham magistrates on Friday.

Prosecutor Peter Ashby said: “Randall approached the officers and demanded to know what was happening.

“PC Crawford pushed him away and told him that he needed to back up. She told him that she would talk to him away from the scene. Randall replied in an aggressive manner and said he would 'square up to who I want. '

“He then tried to get closer to the officer, who told him he needed to get back - at which he shouted at her 'What’s going on.'

“Randall approached the officer again and she warned him that if he continued this way he would be joining his brother.

“Randall then clenched his fists and said, ‘or what - what’s he done?’.

The court heard that Randall momentarily walked away, barging past the officer. PC Crawford grabbed him and he retaliated by pushing her back with two hands.

“PC Crawford then arrested Randall for assaulting a police officer and whilst she was cautioning him he pushed her again, so much so that she fell to the floor," Mr Ashby said.

“She drew her Taser and pointed it at him and shouted at him to get on the ground.

"Initially he complied and she tried to physically restrain him because she had no handcuffs and he then started wrestling with her and refused to put his hands behind his back.

“He threw his head back towards her, hitting her on the chin and forcing her head back so it connected with a car which was parked behind them.

“Other officers then arrived on the scene to help with the handcuffing of Randall. He then tried to stand up in a move that threw PC Crawford aside, smashing her head twice on another vehicle’s wheel arch."

The court heard Randall later told police he was affected by the 'red mist' as a result of taking heroin substitute methadone.

In her victim statement PC Crawford said that she was highly upset by this incident. She sustained multiple injuries of bruising and swelling to her body and concussion after taking a few blows to her head, she stated.

“She was still suffering from headaches days after the incident, which required her to be taken to hospital by ambulance as she was diagnosed with concussion.”

The court was told that PC Crawford had to take two days off work to recover and has been taking pain killers ever since.

Randall, 39, of Abbots Leys Road, Winchcombe, pleaded guilty to assault of an emergency worker on November 20, 2019.

Guy Percival defending said: “Randall doesn’t accept the version of events portrayed by the prosecution.

“He got involved because he was concerned because his brother was face down on the ground when he was being arrested. Randall also claims he was punched in the back of his head when he tried to intervene.

“He admits being abusive to PC Crawford but insists he did not punch her.

“However he does accept that it was a sustained incident which has resulted with the officer being injured by hitting herself on the vehicles.”

The justices said that there was a substantial difference between the prosecution’s account of the incident and the defendant’s, so there would be a 'trial of issue' to determine the facts on April 1.

Randall was released on unconditional bail. He will be sentenced after the magistrates have ruled on which version of events they accept.