Ex-policeman stamped on head of mother's neighbour, jury told

Robin Mullett and his sister Nicola are accused of launching an attack on Robert Cummings after their mother made a series of complaints about the noise coming from the flat where he was staying in the Black Country.

Birmingham Crown Court yesterday heard that Mr Cummings 'stopped counting' the number of stamps to his head after 10.

A jury was told he also suffered a fractured rib, and injuries to his arm and chin.

The jury was shown photographs of blood on the floor of the hallway where the attack is said to have taken place.

Mr Cummings, while being cross-examined by Robin Mullett's defence lawyer Brian Dean, denied that the pair had gone to confront him because of noise he was making over a number of months, which was disturbing the defendants' mother.

But Mr Dean told jurors the mother had even complained to the council about the amount of noise coming from the flat in Church Road, Rowley Regis.

Addressing Mr Cummings, Mr Dean said: "Mrs Mullett was woken by the metal gate at the front being slammed shut, people running up the stairs who I was going to suggest was two men including you and noise went on and off throughout the night.

"At 4.50am you and another person came down the stairs, that person left, and you went back up the stairs banging your fist on the stair wall, which is also part of her wall, you slammed the door and you were swearing and you were shouting."

Mr Cummings replied: "Why would I want to do that?"

"Because she had complained to the environmental health," Mr Dean said.

Mr Cummings said: "I or my mother had not created any noise, so I let that go over the top of my head."

Mullett, aged 40, of Highting Close, Stourport – who formerly served the Wolverhampton area for West Midlands Police – denies wounding with intent and assault by beating.

His 47-year-old sister, of Brockmoor, Brierley Hill, denies the charges against her and also assault by beating against another man at the scene.

The trial continues.