Driver beaten by police who stopped him over reg plate, court is told
AN AUTISTIC driver was beaten by police officers after being pulled over because of a defective number plate, a court heard yesterday.
Fezan Khan claims a baton was used to inflict ‘crushing blows’ to his leg, leaving him with permanent scarring.
Sean McDermott, 32, and Andrew CurrieMcLean, 34, are accused of assaulting Mr Khan in Airdrie, Lanarkshire, on January 23, 2021. It is claimed they repeatedly punched him and struck him with a baton. They are also accused of attempting to pervert the course of justice by making false criminal allegations against the supermarket worker and former boxer.
The officers deny all the charges. Mr Khan, 21, of Glasgow, told Airdrie Sheriff Court he was stopped over his registration plate.
He said he explained to the officers how he had previously been fined for the offence but had not yet paid it. While being quizzed, the father-of-one said: ‘This is harassment. You’re only doing this because of my colour.’
Mr Khan claimed Currie-McLean was ‘aggressive’ and told him he would be ‘going to jail’. He said: ‘Due to autism and Asperger’s, I find it difficult to speak in that heated moment.
‘I wasn’t aggressive. They tried to handcuff me and I tried to pull my arms away. I felt I was being picked on.’
Khan claims Currie-McLean punched him about four times while McDermott put him in a headlock. He added: ‘Pava (synthetic pepper spray) was sprayed in my face. I also felt two crushing blows to my leg.’
The court was shown photos of his bruised face and the cuts to his leg. Mr Khan said: ‘I was crying. He (Currie-McLean) was saying “When did you come from Pakistan? Why did you come here?”.’
Donald Findlay, KC, defending McDermott, referred to a statement Mr Khan later made to the police which said: ‘I was feeling a real sense of injustice. I think I would have come across as aggressive.’
Mr Findlay said: ‘Whatever happened was nothing to do with your colour.’
Questioned by John Scullion, KC, defending Currie-McLean, Mr Khan agreed he has ‘issues with aggression’ and had been on medication to keep him calm. The trial continues.