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| Gwent Police settle with Robert Whatley over car chase | Gwent Police settle with Robert Whatley over car chase |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Lawyers say police have made a substantial out-of-court settlement after stopping a Monmouthshire man's car and smashing its windows. | Lawyers say police have made a substantial out-of-court settlement after stopping a Monmouthshire man's car and smashing its windows. |
| Businessman Robert Whatley, 73, of Usk, took legal action over a 17-minute pursuit for not wearing a seat belt. | Businessman Robert Whatley, 73, of Usk, took legal action over a 17-minute pursuit for not wearing a seat belt. |
| The officers were later cleared in a disciplinary hearing and Gwent Police has made no admission of liability. | The officers were later cleared in a disciplinary hearing and Gwent Police has made no admission of liability. |
| BBC Wales understands the payment is in excess of £20,000. Police said they decided to settle on financial grounds. | BBC Wales understands the payment is in excess of £20,000. Police said they decided to settle on financial grounds. |
| Mr Whatley, who claimed for post-traumatic stress disorder, has already received more than £8,000 from the force after claiming for damage to his Range Rover. | Mr Whatley, who claimed for post-traumatic stress disorder, has already received more than £8,000 from the force after claiming for damage to his Range Rover. |
| His solicitors say Gwent Police has also agreed to pay "all reasonable" costs for the legal action. | His solicitors say Gwent Police has also agreed to pay "all reasonable" costs for the legal action. |
| Mr Whatley's lawyers had secured a copy of the police video of the incident which was later seen by thousands of people on YouTube. | Mr Whatley's lawyers had secured a copy of the police video of the incident which was later seen by thousands of people on YouTube. |
| Mr Whatley was stopped in 2009 at the end of the pursuit. He had driven off without wearing a seat belt and was chased for several miles along country roads between Cwmbran and Usk. | |
| Mr Whatley was later found guilty of not wearing a seatbelt, failing to stop for a police officer and having tinted car windows that did not conform to legal requirements. | Mr Whatley was later found guilty of not wearing a seatbelt, failing to stop for a police officer and having tinted car windows that did not conform to legal requirements. |
| He also admitted having a registration plate which did not adhere to regulations and was fined a total of £235 and ordered to pay £300 towards prosecution costs by Caerphilly magistrates. | He also admitted having a registration plate which did not adhere to regulations and was fined a total of £235 and ordered to pay £300 towards prosecution costs by Caerphilly magistrates. |
| However, the court cleared Mr Whatley of failing to stop after an accident. | However, the court cleared Mr Whatley of failing to stop after an accident. |
| The IPCC supervised an investigation into the incident but a disciplinary panel made up of officers from another force later cleared the two Gwent officers, finding that their actions were justified. | The IPCC supervised an investigation into the incident but a disciplinary panel made up of officers from another force later cleared the two Gwent officers, finding that their actions were justified. |
| In respect of the out-of-court settlement, Gwent deputy chief constable Jeff Farrar said: "Gwent Police have not accepted any liability in this matter, however contesting the matter further would have incurred substantial legal costs if the case had gone to court. | In respect of the out-of-court settlement, Gwent deputy chief constable Jeff Farrar said: "Gwent Police have not accepted any liability in this matter, however contesting the matter further would have incurred substantial legal costs if the case had gone to court. |
| "Therefore, whilst we maintain our position that we do not admit liability, a decision was made to settle the matter out of court on financial grounds." | "Therefore, whilst we maintain our position that we do not admit liability, a decision was made to settle the matter out of court on financial grounds." |