A MAN has been awarded £21,000 in compensation by Essex Police after he was hit in the face with CS spray during his arrest.

Alan Lethbridge was arrested after a scuffle outside O’Neill’s pub, in Brentwood High Street, in 2009 during which he was sprayed in the face.

He was found guilty of spitting at and assaulting a paramedic who tried to tend to a headwound while he was handcuffed, but the conviction was quashed later that year following an appeal.

He has now received an out-ofcourt settlement from Essex Police after making a complaint about his arrest.

An investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission was carried out, but the complaints were not upheld.

However, three officers later received refresher defensive skills training and frontline officers now receive complusory annual refresher training.

An Essex Police spokesman said: “We can confirm we have reached an out-of-court settlement with Mr Lethbridge following his arrest in September 2009.

“Following his arrest, a formal complaint was received from Mr Lethbridge concerning the force used to restrain him.

“All frontline officers now receive annual fresher training in defensive skills, which includes the use of CS spray.

“Any officers who are unable to attend their annual refresher training are taken off frontline duties until training is completed.

“On May 15, 2013, Essex Police were served with a claim for compensation from Mr Lethbridge.

“After careful consideration of all the available evidence an outof-court settlement was reached.”