POLICE have made an out of court settlement with a man who claimed he was the victim of an unprovoked assault at the hands of an officer.

William Allison, 51, of Cartmel Avenue, Accrington, claimed he was assaulted by police three years ago as he tried to post letters through his front door.

But Mr Allison reached an out of court settlement, believed to be £1,500, following the first day of a civil case at Burnley Crown Court.

Mr Allison had earlier told the hearing that he was assaulted by Accrington PC Michael Johnson. The court had heard Mr Allison claim he was stuck twice over the head by a baton. Mr Allison also claimed he was singled out because he was known to the police.

Following the incident in October 1995, Mr Allison was charged with assaulting the police but the case was later dismissed by Hyndburn magistrates.

After the settlement was reached, Mr Allison said: "It has taken me three years to get this far.

"I never received an apology for what happened even though the case against me was dismissed by the magistrates."

A spokesman for Lancashire police said: "Following discussions between the constabulary and the plaintiff's solicitors, a settlement was agreed."

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