A former police officer has denied causing grievous bodily harm when he stepped in to detain an alleged shoplifter in a “citizens' arrest”, a court has heard.
Lorne Castle, 47, has pleaded not guilty to seriously injuring Daniel Meyrick in an altercation outside the Castlepoint shopping centre in Bournemouth, Dorset, on 19 June last year.
The incident happened a couple of weeks after Castle left his role as a Pc for Dorset Police.
Castle appeared at Reading Magistrates Court on Wednesday wearing a black suit and tie.
He spoke to confirm his name, address, date of birth and to deny the charge.
Castle was pictured at the time detaining the suspected shoplifter outside a Nike store, pinning him to the ground with his arm locked behind his back.
His actions were described at the time as a “citizen’s arrest”, but the prosecution allege that he was “not a good Samaritan”.
Kathleen O’Callaghan, prosecuting, said Mr Meyrick “suffered a fractured hip which required surgery, pins inserted” in the altercation with Castle.
“Mr Castle maintains his hold on Mr Meyrick for 20 minutes to half an hour, obviously at that point he’s got a fractured hip,” said Ms O’Callaghan.
The former Pc also suffered some injuries during the incident, the court heard.
Castle will remain on bail with a condition of not contacting Mr Meyrick, to next appear at Reading Crown Court on 23 June.
