A BLIND Crayford teenager has been told to keep out of trouble after being accused of assaulting a police officer.

Joe Eastwood, 18, of Ravensbourne Road, Crayford, agreed to be bound over to keep the peace for 12 months after his case went before Bexley Magistrates' Court.

But Joe's mum, Mary, blasted Bexleyheath police over the arrest and lodged a formal complaint against them for harassing her son and hurting him during the incident.

Joe had been charged with assaulting a police officer after he and two friends were asked to get out of a car when it was stopped by police, in Bridge Road, Slade Green.

Police alleged Joe, who has four metal plates in his head and suffers from brain damage caused by a car accident in 1999, was slow to get out and when grabbed by officers, headbutted one of them.

Defending Richard Hawgood said what happened was an accident and the teenager vehemently denied the charge. He said the injury occurred during a confused situation.

But Joe's mother has slammed the police for the way in which Joe has been treated and claimed the case was the latest in a long line of incidents.

She said: “My son has been harassed over and over again by police.

“Every time they see him, they pick him up for something or another. The way they treat him is outrageous. Joe was in court to deny he had assaulted a police officer and yet at the same time, they refused to believe he was blind and manhandled him during the course of the incident.”

A spokesman for Bexley police said: “We are unable to comment on this matter as it is formally under investigation.”