Policeman 'broke his lodger's leg with a spade'

Paul Turpin jumped out from behind a tree and attacked the 19-year-old in the back garden of his bungalow.

Thomas Hasler-Watts was hit repeatedly about the neck, back and legs with the spade, the Old Bailey was told.

Turpin, 41, then called the police, claiming he had caught some burglars and was defending himself with a hockey stick.

It is alleged that Turpin wanted Mr Hasler-Watts out of his house, which had been damaged during a party some weeks earlier.

The detective's daughter Megan had invited Mr Hasler-Watts, an unemployed friend of her boyfriend, to stay at her family's bungalow in Woolmer Green, Hertfordshire, in August 2003.

Turnip had moved out after breaking up with his wife Nicola but regularly checked on the property. Mrs Turpin was often absent, leaving Megan on her own.

The detective had previously tried to evict Mr Hasler-Watts by calling police claiming he was a burglar.

Officers called at the house but took no action when told the former petrol attendant was a tenant.

Turpin complained to neighbours that his colleagues were "bloody useless" when they mentioned the burglary.

On the day of the attack, August 25, 2003, Mr Hasler-Watts admitted to drinking heavily and also to, "quite possibly" smoking cannabis.

He and his friend James Murray - Megan's boyfriend - ran out of the house when they heard a key in the door.

The court heard that Turpin made them feel uncomfortable. They thought he "didn't seem in a very good frame of mind".

They later walked back towards the bungalow across the garden when they thought Turpin had gone.

Mr Hasler-Watts said the garden was dark and he only saw the detective's silhouette when he was a few feet away.

"I assumed it to be Mr Turpin," he said. "I stood still for a moment and there wasn't any sound."

"I saw the silhouette's arms were raised with something in his hands. I believe it was either a shovel or a spade.

"Then the silhouette moved forward and struck me around the face. I was struck down to the floor."

Mr Hasler-Watts broke down as he described the "extreme force" of the blows, saying: "I felt very scared, I thought I was going to die.

"I felt several blows to my back, my buttocks and my legs.

"A blow to my lower left leg sent a sharp excruciating pain through it.

"I was curled up on the floor, I said, 'Stop! It's Tom'. I thought if he knew who it was he would stop."

Turpin claimed in a police statement that he saw Mr Murray holding a shovel and Mr Hasler-Watts with a garden fork and defended himself with a hockey stick.

Peter Finnigan, defending, suggested the victim was indeed hit by a hockey stick and that he broke his leg climbing over fences as he made his escape.

Mr Finnigan added: "You were perfectly aware that Megan wasn't in a position to give you permission to stay. She was a troubled young girl."

He added that Turpin had broken up a party at the house weeks earlier when his daughter was entertaining older teenagers, including Mr Hasler-Watts.

Mr Finnigan said: "Were you not also asked to leave the house?" Mr Hasler-Watts said, "No I was allowed to stay."

Photographs released of the house show furniture broken, picture frames damaged and graffiti on the walls.

Turpin denies intent of causing grievous bodily harm and inflicting grievous bodily harm.

The trial continues.