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| CS spray man gets police compensation for Brentwood arrest | CS spray man gets police compensation for Brentwood arrest |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| A man who was sprayed in the face with CS gas by police officers has been awarded a £21,000 compensation payout. | |
| Essex Police agreed the out-of-court settlement to Alan Lethbridge but has not apologised. | Essex Police agreed the out-of-court settlement to Alan Lethbridge but has not apologised. |
| Mr Lethbridge, 34, of Romford, said he has had mental health problems since being sprayed during his arrest in Brentwood High Street in 2009. | Mr Lethbridge, 34, of Romford, said he has had mental health problems since being sprayed during his arrest in Brentwood High Street in 2009. |
| The former builder said he hoped to "rebuild his life" with the money and work again. | The former builder said he hoped to "rebuild his life" with the money and work again. |
| Mr Lethbridge bought a van with part of his compensation money and is about to return to work, as a delivery driver, for the first time since his arrest. | Mr Lethbridge bought a van with part of his compensation money and is about to return to work, as a delivery driver, for the first time since his arrest. |
| "The money just doesn't do it justice and it wasn't about the money," he said. | "The money just doesn't do it justice and it wasn't about the money," he said. |
| "It was about the principle that I hadn't done anything in the first place. | "It was about the principle that I hadn't done anything in the first place. |
| "It's just a relief that it is all finished with, but it's disappointing that I never got an apology." | "It's just a relief that it is all finished with, but it's disappointing that I never got an apology." |
| Defensive skills training | Defensive skills training |
| In 2010 the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) investigated and decided Mr Lethbridge's arrest was lawful, but the two people who were sprayed with CS gas should have been given a clear warning. | In 2010 the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) investigated and decided Mr Lethbridge's arrest was lawful, but the two people who were sprayed with CS gas should have been given a clear warning. |
| A TV cameraman filmed the CS spray being discharged close to Mr Lethbridge's face. | A TV cameraman filmed the CS spray being discharged close to Mr Lethbridge's face. |
| Following the IPCC inquiry, the three police officers involved went on a defensive skills training refresher course and the officer who deployed the CS spray was given advice on its use. | Following the IPCC inquiry, the three police officers involved went on a defensive skills training refresher course and the officer who deployed the CS spray was given advice on its use. |
| The Crown Prosecution Service had previously decided the officers should not face any criminal charges. | The Crown Prosecution Service had previously decided the officers should not face any criminal charges. |
| Mr Lethbridge was convicted for spitting in the face of a paramedic in April 2010, but it was quashed after an appeal. | Mr Lethbridge was convicted for spitting in the face of a paramedic in April 2010, but it was quashed after an appeal. |
| Charges of being drunk and disorderly and using threatening words or behaviour were dropped. | Charges of being drunk and disorderly and using threatening words or behaviour were dropped. |
| "For the five to six years I've been on anti-depressants, the doctors diagnosed me with post-traumatic stress disorder and I've been having counselling," said Mr Lethbridge. | "For the five to six years I've been on anti-depressants, the doctors diagnosed me with post-traumatic stress disorder and I've been having counselling," said Mr Lethbridge. |
| "My life has been complete hell for the past five years." | "My life has been complete hell for the past five years." |
| Essex Police told BBC Look East it would not issue an apology as Mr Lethbridge's complaint to Essex Police was not upheld by the IPCC. | Essex Police told BBC Look East it would not issue an apology as Mr Lethbridge's complaint to Essex Police was not upheld by the IPCC. |