A MAN assaulted by police after he was spotted carrying a machete in Oxford’s Blackbird Leys estate has won a £25,000 payout.

Cecil Reid, formerly of Pegasus Road, Blackbird Leys, was arrested on suspicion of attempted grievous bodily harm, possession of an offensive weapon and resisting arrest, after officers saw him with the large knife, which had a 14in blade, on the estate in 2005.

They restrained him using CS spray, and his shoulder was injured during the arrest.

This week police spokesman Victoria Brandon said: “Thames Valley Police was found guilty of assault in a civil court a couple of months ago and Mr Reid has since been offered £25,000 in compensation by the force.”

Mrs Brandon said the officers involved in the incident were still working for the force and no apology would be issued.

Unemployed Mr Reid, 60, who now lives in Oxford Road, Cowley, said he had lost all confidence in the police since the incident, which left him with an arm injury and unable to work.

Deputy Chief Constable Francis Habgood said Mr Reid bought a case against the force alleging unlawful imprisonment, assault and malicious prosecution, which a jury found was lawful.

However, it said excessive force was used in the arrest.

He added: “Mr Reid was arrested for attempted grievous bodily harm, possession of an offensive weapon and resisting arrest, and CS spray was deployed in the course of the arrest.

“He did, however, suffer a shoulder injury during the struggle to detain him.”

Mr Reid, a former kitchen porter, said officers confronted him in Jasmine Close about 1am on March 19, 2005.

He claimed he had collected his knife from a friend, to whom he had lent it, and was walking home with it to finish preparing some food for a friend.

The grandfather-of-six, who said he had no previous convictions, said: “I told them what I had on me and they said, ‘drop the knife’ and I did.

“They sprayed CS in my face and man-handled me to the ground and forced my arms around my back.

“I have never been hit like that before in my life.

“I had to swear, because I was in so much pain.”

He added: “They had no reason to gas me and break my arm.

“I was an innocent man. I have no confidence in the police force.

“I haven’t been able to go back to work and I like working and I like my independence and my own money.”

Susie Esquire, of the TaxPayers’ Alliance pressure group, said: “It’s most important that victims of assault by the police are compensated, but Mr Reid’s compensation is sky high.

“ I think this should be a lesson to the police to be more careful and more thorough in their arrest procedures, so that taxpayers’ money can be channelled towards frontline policing, instead of feeding the compensation culture.”