No charge for policeman who Tasered blind man

A POLICEMAN has escaped criminal charges for shooting a blind stroke victim with a Taser after he mistook his walking stick for a samurai sword.

The Crown Prosecution Service will not pursue the case because the officer was ‘completely mistaken’ when he left Colin Farmer writhing in pain on the ground after using the 50,000-volt gun.

They said the officer was acting on ‘erroneous reports’ and had taken ‘appropriate action’.

Yesterday Mr Farmer said he has been ‘trapped in a nightmare’ since the incident in Chorley, Lancashire, on October 12 last year.

The retired company director said: ‘I am devastated that the CPS have made this decision because I am now worried about the safety of others as this triggerhappy officer continues to patrol our streets.

‘I was slowly making my way down the street when I heard this man shouting.

‘Suddenly I felt a huge force on my back and this electric shock went right through my body and I collapsed in a heap on the floor. I was shouting all the time “I’m blind! I’m blind!”’

Mr Farmer, 63, is pursuing legal action against Lancashire Constabulary.

Former Home Secretary David Blunkett, who is also blind, said last night: ‘At the very least a reprimand and an indication of some further in-service training would have been expected.’