Man United fan wrongly arrested outside Wembley Stadium wins damages from the police
Alan Taylor was wrongfully arrested outside Wembley Stadium (Pic credit: Paul Keogh) - Credit: Archant
An innocent businessman who was wrongly arrested outside Wembley Stadium before an FA Cup semi-final has been awarded damages from the police.
Wembley Stadium was hosting the all-Manchester semi in April 2011 (Pic credit: PA) - Credit: Archant
Alan Taylor, 31, had innocently gone to help a friend who had been knocked over but was instead cuffed and locked in the back of a police van before an all-Manchester semi in April 2011.
The father-of-four and Man United fan from Aylesham in Kent, was humiliated in front of friends and held at Wembley Police Station, until 2am the next morning.
He sued the Met Police and, after a jury found he was assaulted and falsely imprisoned, he was awarded £5,000 damages at Central London County Court today.
The Met must also pay half of his My Taylor’s costs taking its bill to more than £50,000.
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Speaking outside court afterwards, he said: “It’s not about the money, the main thing is I was completely vindicated.
“The worst thing was that my friends and family knew I had been arrested.
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“My kids saw me go to the football every week, and then one night I didn’t come home.’
Jurors heard that Mr Taylor is of impeccably good character and runs his own electrical services business.
He was arrested and prosecuted after police wrongly accused him of interfering in the arrest of another supporter.
He was told he was being held for obstructing police, but was ‘shocked’ when later bailed for affray and charged.
Henry Gow, representing Mr Taylor, claimed the officers had no reason to arrest him and he had then been ‘maliciously prosecuted’ for affray.
At the end of a week-long trial the jury found that he had been assaulted and falsely imprisoned but rejected the malicious prosecution claim.
Mr Taylor said his ordeal had not put him off going to watch football.
