A suspended cop who claimed a gang of armed men set upon him could be "seeking attention”, a court heard.

Michael Tovell, 46, claimed four men wielding baseball bats and a handgun beat him over the head and body while on duty in a graveyard in Thanet.

He said in a witness statement they struck him nine times over the arms and head, the court heard.

However, a police probe revealed his injuries were "inconsistent" and there was no trace of the dangerous thugs, a jury was told.

Tovell was suspended in connection with the incident at St Laurence Church in Ramsgate last year.

The former constable appeared at Canterbury Crown Court today charged with perverting the course of justice.

Tovell was part of a team searching for a vulnerable person, when he suggested scouting the graveyard alone, the court heard.

“The prosecution say Mr Tovell could have been seeking attention or compensation...” Ian Hope

Shortly afterwards, his radio beamed an emergency SOS across Kent Police requesting help shortly after 9.45pm on February 2 last year.

Played to the jury, the SOS recording was Tovell’s voice repeatedly shouting “put that down.”

Officers soon discovered him unconscious and struggling to breathe, prosecutor Ian Hope told the court.

Paramedics reported Tovell was confused, however there was no real sign of a head injury, judge Simon James heard.

He was rushed to Ashford’s William Harvey Hospital but discharged hours later. A CT scan and other tests revealed there were no serious injuries, the court heard.

Investigating officers would check hours of public and private CCTV footage around the church near the time of the reported attack.

But CCTV revealed only one person entered the graveyard around the time of the alleged incident, the court heard.

That person has been accounted for, explained Mr Hope. He continued: “The prosecution say Mr Tovell could have been seeking attention or compensation.”

He explained Tovell was involved in a prior incident where Kent Police awarded Tovell compensation.

“Mr Tovell was assaulted while on duty by a group of men with a blunt object.

“The prosecution say he has recreated the incident.”

His barrister is expected to summarise his case tomorrow.

The trial continues.

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