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A DISABLED Carmarthen man has been cleared of assaulting a police officer over a row about how a police van was parked. Forty-seven-year-old Martin James has made an official complaint about the way he was treated by police at the time. Mr James, of Brynmeurig, Tregunnor, was arrested after complaining about a police van which was allegedly causing an obstruction on nearby Primrose Hill. He had been posing for a photograph for a Carmarthen Journal article when he was approached by off duty police officers who told him to "get off private property," Llanelli magistrates heard. The owner of the van, dog handler Constable Andrew Edwards, who lived in the cul-de-sac, was also called. Edwards claimed James then became aggressive when asked to leave private property. However, Mr James told magistrates he was "brutally manhandled" and treated "worse than an animal" by police who restrained him before "throwing" him in a police van. Serving as prosecution witnesses, a number of police officers said Mr James was "abusive" and "out of control". Mr James suffers with hydrocephalus or water on the brain. However, magistrates cleared Mr James of all charges and said that until the off duty officers intervened Mr James was acting in a peaceful manner. Passing sentence, chairwoman of the bench at Carmarthen Magistrates Court Margaret Davies said: "We are of the opinion that Mr James's behaviour was a reaction to the restraint procedure, the pain and the fact he felt he was being treated with disrespect by the three officers when he was lifted out of his wheelchair and onto the floor of the police van. Following the case, Mr James told the Journal he was glad justice had been done. "I am very happy that I have been cleared," he said. "But now it's time the police have their justice. "They treated me like a lump of meat, and they should pay the price for that. They never asked me about my medical condition either," he added. Mr James's care worker Simon Hatch told magistrates he was still angry about the way the police treated him. "I'm still fuming about it. It was totally out of order," he said. After the incident on May 19, Mr James complained to professional standards about the way he was treated. "It was disgusting, and now justice must be served on those officers," he said. He also said public money could be better spent. "In my opinion, it was a tremendous waste of money. It should never have gone to court," said Mr James. "Police are better off on the beat than in court giving evidence. "We need the police out and about, not in court rooms giving evidence about minor offences. "My father agreed. The whole experience has left me very, very tired," he added. The trial was held in Llanelli because despite having disability access to Carmarthen Court there are steps into the court room. "It was tiring having to go back and forth to Llanelli every day, and, in respect of disabled access, people need to be more aware of disabled people," said Mr James. "The police did not ask me once what my medical condition was, and a lot of people are not aware of it. They need to be asking these questions. "There needs to be more awareness about disability — most of the people who make the decisions are not disabled, so they don't think about it. "The whole experience was stressful and tiring," added Mr James. A spokesperson for Dyfed-Powys Police said: "A complaint has been received and an investigation is ongoing — therefore it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time." Please click following for mor on this story. http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/new...

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