Taser sparks sue threat

A BRIDGWATER man is threatening to sue police after an officer accidentally discharged a 50,000 volt Taser into his groin.

Peter Cox, 49, was stopped by police outside his friend Donna Allen's house in the town on suspicion of driving without insurance.

Father-of-one Mr Cox, of Duke Street, who has car insurance, complied and got out of his BMW to deliver a bag of stones for Donna's garden – only to be Tasered with probes in his groin and ankle.

He claims one probe missed his genitals by three inches.

Unemployed Peter, who suffers from debilitating Guillain-Barre syndrome, alleged: "I got out of the car and asked the police what they wanted. I then asked them to park on the other side of the road because we were working on the front garden.

"The officer didn't say anything, but he got out of the car and pulled out a Taser and pointed it at me.

"I didn't know this at the time so I just went on with what I was doing and got a bag of stone for the garden out of the boot. Then he shot me.

"I wasn't looking but Donna says he had it pointed at me for 20 seconds before it went off.

"I was really shocked and I didn't know what was going on. I got one in my groin and one in my ankle."

Police claim an officer withdrew his Taser gun because the suspect appeared to become aggressive – adding that the Taser was accidentally discharged as it was lowered.

Now Mr Cox is threatening legal action and has spoken to a solicitor saying he was not aggressive and officers should not carry Tasers if they cannot use them properly. He said the police apologised at the scene but still believes there is a case.

Mr Cox, who has recently had a kneecap replaced, said the Taser was painful and instantly sent him to the ground, cutting his elbow and grazing his leg.

Shocked, Mr Cox had to wait for paramedics to free him from the Taser probes.

Police said they were investigating the incident.

An Avon and Somerset police statement said: "Officers stopped a man in Bridgwater suspected to be driving a vehicle without insurance.

"The man appeared to become aggressive and the officer removed his Taser in accordance with protocol. On lowering the Taser it was accidentally discharged."