Police let Barrymore and my Stuart down

Grieving dad tells court he lost respect for cops

THE father of the man found dead in Michael Barrymore’s pool has said both he and the entertainer were let down by police probing the tragedy.

Stuart Lubbock’s dad Terry shook hands with Barrymore outside court, where the star is suing police for £2.5million for arresting him on suspicion of raping and murdering Stuart, 31, at his home in 2001.

He was never charged – despite police going to extraordinary lengths to find evidence against him, which were revealed for the first time in court yesterday.

Terry, 71, told Barrymore of his fury over Essex Police’s bungled investigation. He said: “I said to him I have no respect for the police now. The way they handled Stuart’s case was bad for me and for him.”

The High Court heard Barrymore, 65, had “great sympathy” for Terry and had always made clear he would do whatever he could to help find out what happened to his son.

Terry, who went to the court to hear the case, said: “Barrymore said he was glad I came and asked if I was OK. He said he was hoping it would go his way and he could put it all behind him.“

Outside court, Barrymore said: “I was 49 when this started. I’m 65 now. But I’ve got myself in a good place so whatever I get it’s all extra.”

Stuart’s body was found in the pool of Barrymore’s then home in Roydon, Essex, after a party where the butcher had taken a large amount of drugs and alcohol.

The court heard police put Barrymore under surveillance for a “long time” and got a warrant to search his bank accounts as they suspected him of paying hush money to witnesses.

His QC, Hugh Tomlinson, said there was “nothing to suggest any grounds” for believing that.

Gareth Wilson, who oversaw Barrymore’s arrest, admitted in court there were “some significant issues” in the probe. Now chief constable of Suffolk Police, he said: “I don’t think it was Essex Police’s finest hour.”

Essex Police have admitted Barrymore’s arrest, six years after Stuart’s death, was unlawful as the arresting officer did not have reasonable grounds to suspect Barrymore was guilty.

But they claim the comedian could have been lawfully arrested by another officer and is entitled to only a few pounds in damages.

Barrymore is not due to give evidence during the hearing.