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EternBoyX.
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A retired businessman today won more than £20,000 damages from police who smashed his car windows for driving without a seatbelt.
Grandfather Robert Whatley, 73, was pulled over in his Range Rover in 2009 and expected the officer to gently knock on his window.
But one policeman hit the glass 15 times with his baton - while another climbed onto the bonnet to kick in the windscreen of the £60,000 car.
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Extreme: Once Mr Whatley had pulled over a police officer smashed the driver's side window
Legal victory: Robert Whatley has won compensation from police after officers smashed his car windows
It was all captured on a video camera mounted inside the police’s own patrol car as Mr Whatley was stopped in a quiet country lane.
The video was obtained by his legal team and later posted on YouTube - and has been seen by more than 30 million people worldwide.
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Gwent Police paid Mr Whatley compensation for the ‘post-traumatic stress disorder’ he suffered at the hands of the two PCs.
Former property developer Mr Whatley was arrested at the scene, charged with driving without a seatbelt and failing to stop for police. He was found guilty and fined a total of £235.
Caught on camera: As one officer opens the door to get Mr Whatley out, another can be seen on the bonnet stamping on the windscreen
Shocked: Mr Whatley is eventually removed from the car
But Mr Whatley had the last laugh - when Gwent Police agreed to pay an out-of-court settlement and his legal fees.
The force also paid for repairs to his black Range Rover costing £9,800.
Mr Whatley, of Usk, Monmouthshire, said: ‘The police went completely over the top - you would have thought I had robbed a bank
‘I was terrified when they started smashing in the window and trying to kick in the windscreen.
‘I feel the rogue officers were too quick to turn to aggression. I brought this claim as a matter of principle and not for compensation.’
Mr Whatley, who was recovering after he suffered a stroke, admitted not wearing a seatbelt because he had been reversing earlier.
Damage: It cost nearly £10,000 to repair the Range Rover
A family spokesman said yesterday: ‘It is incredible that police in Britain can behave in this way - they put an elderly man in fear of his life.
‘We sued the police because unfortunately there has been some lasting psychological damage.
‘Most people are not in the financial position, or are too scared, to take on the police.
‘But we were not prepared to back down - and it is highly significant that the police have paid up without a fight.
‘With their own legal costs we estimated this has cost them more than £100,000.’
The two Pcs, who have not been named, were removed from front-line duty and were subject to an internal disciplinary hearing held behind closed doors.
But they pair were allowed back on duty after being cleared of any wrong-doing.
Gwent Police said the two officers ‘met the highest standards of professional behaviour’.
The force yesterday confirmed it had paid Mr Whatley compensation without admitting liability.
Mr Whatley’s solicitor Nogah Ofer said: ‘This payment shows up the police disciplinary system as a cosy club in which police officers’ explanations are accepted unquestioningly.
‘It follows threats by Mr Whatley’s lawyers to bring civil proceedings for excessive use of force.
‘It comes in stark contrast to the findings of an internal police disciplinary panel in June 2011 which concluded that the officers’ actions were entirely justified.
‘An out of court settlement demonstrates that the force was concerned that an independent court would reach the opposite conclusion.
‘Police support for officers who act in this way does little for public confidence in the police complaints system.’
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-20...l#ixzz1lFGgZZFf.
