A disabled father who launched legal proceedings against Police Scotland, claiming he was violently assaulted by officers while recovering from major surgery, has won a compensation payout following an out-of-court settlement.
Incident Filmed by Wife During Confrontation
Lee Fraser, 48, was returning from a shopping trip to Lidl supermarket with his wife Sheryl in Dundee when the confrontation occurred in March 2021. According to Mr Fraser's account, officers in a police van pulled over the couple's Vauxhall Astra. As the couple exited their vehicle to approach the officers, two policemen allegedly leapt from their van and initiated physical contact.
The father-of-one, who was recovering from spinal surgery and has cysts on his brain, claims he was tackled to the ground, punched in the face and body, and sustained a broken tooth during what he describes as a brutal assault. His wife captured the entire incident on film, documenting the altercation as it unfolded.
Legal Battle and Court Proceedings
Despite the video evidence, Mr Fraser was initially charged with assault and resisting arrest. He was subsequently found not guilty in court. The Police Investigations Review Commissioner later dismissed a formal complaint about the officers' conduct, citing insufficient evidence.
Undeterred by these setbacks, Mr Fraser pursued civil action against Police Scotland through Digby Brown Solicitors, alleging wrongful arrest and excessive force. The case was settled out of court in October for an undisclosed amount, though Mr Fraser has chosen not to comment publicly on the outcome.
Recounting the Traumatic Experience
In a detailed recollection of the events, Mr Fraser described the officers' behaviour as aggressive and uncontrolled. "The first cop was screaming at my wife to get back inside the car and grabbed her," he stated. "A second officer rushed at me so I ended up pinned against my open car door next to the steering wheel. He was so close and aggressive I felt his saliva hit my face."
Mr Fraser further explained that his wife attempted to show officers his blue disability badge during the incident, pleading with them to stop due to his medical condition. "They looked at it, said something like 'We understand', but they kept laying into me – it didn't change their behaviour one bit," he recalled.
Seeking Accountability Through Legal Channels
The disabled father revealed he had never received an apology from Police Scotland and felt that pursuing legal action was his only recourse for holding the force accountable. "Police Scotland continually tell us they are here to 'keep people safe' – well can they protect us from themselves?" Mr Fraser questioned.
He added: "If the force has any shred of decency they'd stop their people acting like a gang of militants, take action against those who dishonour the uniform and do right by the victims."
Legal Representation and Police Response
Theresa Mutapi, Partner at Digby Brown Solicitors who assisted with the case, commented: "What happened to Lee was unreasonable and unjustified - we know this due to the lack of evidence to explain why his car was stopped and subsequent inconsistencies in officer evidence."
She continued: "Police officers are supposed to be among the most trusted professionals in our society which often leaves victims feeling like they have no chance of holding cops accountable however I hope this outcome assures people there are other routes to justice."
A spokesperson for Police Scotland confirmed: "We are aware the case was settled out of court. We have no further comment."
