THREE police officers were assaulted after they arrested a man for a bike theft in Winchester city centre.

Officers patrolling Winchester at 6pm on Saturday, April 2 stopped to speak to a group of males, who had items with them that were believed to be linked to a report of theft.

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Officers located a bicycle that was found to have been stolen by the men, leading to one of the males being arrested.

Three other men ran from officers but were found by officers from Winchester City Neighbourhoods team shortly after.

A spokesman for Hampshire Constabulary said: "One of the men, a 22-year-old from Winchester, attempted to run away and assaulted an officer to the face and knee in the process. He was not seriously injured.

"The man also assaulted two more officers, the first received a minor injury to her finger and the second, a male officer, was not injured.

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"The 22-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of two counts of assaulting a person thereby occasioning them actual bodily harm and common assault of an emergency worker.

"He has been released from police custody on police bail while our enquiries continue."

Winchester police wrote on Facebook that the three officers were able to remain on duty and are being supported by their line managers.

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