City fan says she was choked by police

Supporter was in Seville

A LEICESTER CITY fan has described the terrifying moment she says she was choked and dumped in the middle of a Seville street by a Spanish police officer.

Abi Morris was having a quiet drink with her family and other Foxes’ supporters outside a pub following Leicester’s recent Champions’ League game when police in riot gear arrived on the scene.

The 24-year-old, who has a heart condition, said: “We were just a small group minding our own business when four police vans pulled up.

“Out jumped a group of officers and without any warning they just starting pushing into the Leicester fans.

“It was pure brute force. There was an older fan with his daughter and they just pushed into him.

“He fell over and landed hitting his head on the pavement with such force. How he didn’t crack his head open I do not know.

“My instinct was to help him but when I did one of the police officers grabbed me with a baton round the throat and dragged me into the middle of the street.”

The sales worker, who had been watching the match in the pub with her mum while her brother and father went to the game, said: “It was horrible.”

She said she believed they came looking for a fight.

“There was no way I was going to give them a fight,” Abi said.

“I weigh less than eight stones but that didn’t stop them.”

The incident was caught on camera by another Leicester fan Ryan Flowers.

His footage shows Abi screaming as she is manhandled by the officer.

The incident prompted Abi to have heart palpitations but she says the police refused her families request for a medic.

She said: “I was feeling really unwell. My mum went up to the senior officer to ask for help.

“I was worried going to get worse.”

Help eventually arrived from the Spanish owner of a nearby hostel who came out to assist Abi, as the fans and the police left the scene.

She said: “He was great I was and luckily I have learned to control my condition when I have a panic attack.

“After 20 minutes I was feeling better but I was left covered in bruises and it really spoiled what was otherwise a wonderful break in a wonderful city.

“I’ve had nightmares since then and struggled to sleep.”

Her brother Sam was struck on her leg with a baton during the encounter.

Dad Rob Morris, from Frolesworth near Lutterworth, said: “What the police did was so out of proportion. There might have been some bits of trouble with fans but not where we were.”

He said: “They were just animals and if they are allowed to carry on like that one day they will kill someone.

“They were violent towards a young woman with a heart condition who was no threat to them whatsoever.”

Mr Morris has written to his MP Alberto Costa to raise the matter.

The South Leicestershire MP has responded to say he will take the matter up with the Foreign Office.