A man who claimed a year ago that officers were heavy handed when they arrested him at home has been given an official apology from Police.

Albert Santucci registered a formal complaint with Police after claiming that he was thrown to the ground by a group of officers who smashed their way into his home in the early hours, injuring his knee and hand in the process, and cracking a tooth.

He was bundled out of the house in his underwear and taken to Hamilton Police Station, only to appear in court soon after to have the issue dismissed.

He said he had been arrested for a matter that had been settled previously.

Police said they had been called to assist the bailiffs of the courts in executing a civil warrant, and said they had been told that Mr. Santucci had previously threatened one of the bailiffs.

But Mr. Santucci, of Fork Lane, Southampton, said he had never threatened a bailiff and had put up no resistance when officers had entered his home.

Mr. Santucci said: "I accept the apology and I understand the Police had a job to do, but that particular job was based on lies.

"I had not threatened the bailiff at all. The whole issue should never have happened. I'm accepting that apology from the Police, but I'm not accepting the fact that the bailiff lied. I certainly don't blame the Police."

Deputy Police Commissioner George Jackson wrote to Mr. Santucci this week and apologised for what he went through.

The letter read: "In the situation of the 24th April, 2002, our officers had the knowledge that you had previously threatened (the bailiff).

"We accept that our officers entered your residence and took immediate physical action in arresting you.

"We, of course, regret that such action had to be taken and that you had to encounter the unpleasant experience which transpired."

And Mr. Jackson said he hoped Mr. Santucci understood, as a concerned member of the public, that the officers viewed the situation from a different perspective and were simply doing their duty, based on the information provided to them.

He added: "Please accept our apology for the unpleasant experience which you endured on the 24th April, 2002."