Police apologise after ignoring man beaten to pulp in street

POLICE ignored a man who had been beaten to a pulp in the street, telling him: “It isn’t our shout,” as they drove past.

Dad-of-two Peter Cox, 34, was blinded in one eye when he was attacked by a gang after a cricket match.

He was lying in a pool of his blood, drifting in and out of consciousness, when a police car went past. Mr Cox says the two officers inside spotted him but drove off.

The insurance boss woke in hospital and although five men were arrested over the beating, they were released because of a lack of evidence.

Police bosses admit they have been unable to find out who the two officers were, despite a lengthy investigation.

But Mr Cox said yesterday he was disgusted by the way he had been treated. He added: “The police made me feel like a common criminal.

“They found a guy who was lying in a pool of his own blood in a park, but they decided to judge me without looking at my injuries. That, to me, is the ultimate betrayal.

“To not be able to identify the officers is incredible. There were only three patrols and six officers in the area that night, so clearly two are not telling the truth.”

Police have since apologised over the incident in New Romney, Kent. In a letter to Mr Cox, a spokesman said: “It is not possible to say the offenders would have been caught if the officers did their duties, but it would have increased the chances. Please accept my apologies.”

29/04/2011