A LAW graduate turned rapper who has headlined the O2 Academy Oxford and played at Truck Festival has launched an official complaint against the police after being handcuffed in Oxford.

ShaoDow, whose real name is Elliott Haslam, was in the city centre earlier this month promoting his headline gig at Wahoo in August when police officers asked to search him in Cornmarket Street, the 29-year-old said.

The Oxford Brookes graduate, who now lives in London, said he was approached by two officers when queuing in EE and asked to step outside.

He said: “When I asked why, they wouldn’t tell me.

“They were quite aggressive and they didn’t like the fact I was questioning them.

“But there are clear protocols that police have to follow.”

It transpired that a woman had informed police that she thought the rapper was selling illegal DVDs.

Mr Haslam said he would have been able to sort the issue out by showing the officers his CDs if they had told him why they were searching him.

He said: “I had no clear idea of what it was about and if it was something I could have helped with then and there then I would have been happy to. One of them then said that if I didn’t allow them to handcuff me they would use pepper spray.”

The headliner said he was then handcuffed for more than 15 minutes before a senior officer who he said was “more professional and calmer” sorted out the mix-up.

The rapper said several fans recognised him as he was in handcuffs and he has made a formal complaint to Thames Valley Police.

He said: “I don’t believe I was treated with any sort of respect and I was in handcuffs for a ridiculous amount of time.

“There was a good amount of people in the city who knew me.

“I know how it looked and want people to know what happened and set the record straight.”

Mr Haslam said police subsequently kept questioning him over his pedlar’s licence – allowing him to sell his CDs – which was in the process of being renewed.

He said he was in Oxford to promote his gig.

He added he had been approached by fans who wanted CDs and that he had had a valid licence for the past six years.

Thames Valley Police spokeswoman Connie Primmer said: “We received Mr Haslam’s complaint on Friday and it is being investigated.

“It would be inappropriate to comment any further while the matter is being investigated.”