A DUDLEY teenager who tried to choke a police officer as he was attending to an injured man has been spared time behind bars.

Wolverhampton Crown Court heard how the officer saw the injured man being surrounded by a 30 strong crowd in Foxglove Road and told them to move away from the scene.

But the court heard how 18 year-old Kitzalan Duncan, of Pine Grove, refused to leave and then moved towards the officer in an aggressive way, said David Lees prosecuting.

He told the court the teenager punched the officer on the side of the head and there was a violent struggle with both men falling to the ground.

Duncan then put his arms around the neck of the policeman and tried to choke him as several members of the crowd moved forwards to surround the two men, before other officers arrived on the scene when Duncan was restrained and arrested.

Mr Lees said the policeman suffered a cut to his elbow and grazing in the scuffle and was left in "considerable pain and discomfort."

Duncan admitted assault causing actual bodily harm and was ordered to carry out 120 hours community punishment.

Recorder Satinder Hunjan QC told him: "You could fully have expected to go straight to prison for what you did. But this is your first offence and it was out of character. I will therefore take an exceptional course."