A man told Magistrates' Court that he failed to show up for a trial because Police beat him up, causing injuries that left him in hospital.

Dunavin Nesbitt, of Stadium Lane, told the court that Police beat him up after he left Focus Counselling Service on January 9.

"They beat me up, split my head, and abandoned me at the hospital," he said.

Due to his alleged injuries he was at home recuperating, he said, when he should have been at court on January 12 to face charges of breaking and entering, stealing and burglary had been scheduled for months.

He then told the court that he was arrested on January 13 due to a warrant which was issued after he failed to show up to court.

"And then they beat me again!" Nesbitt exclaimed. "I told a tall black West Indian Sergeant that they beat me at the Police station and he laughed. Then they told me I had to go to Westgate. I had my injuries photographed there."

Nesbitt, who did not appear to have any bruises or stitches in his head from his alleged injuries, was remanded in custody for his April 22 trial of the breaking and entering, stealing and burglary charges.

Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner told the man if he was serious about his allegations of Police brutality he could take it up with the proper Police authorities.

Mr. Warner wished the man good luck in prison and said: "I hope you will be safer there than on the streets where, according to you, Police beat you."