Ex-police chief sues after prison abuse

JAILED former police commander Ali Dizaei plans to sue prison authorities for failing to protect him from a fellow inmate who made racist threats.

The sacked Scotland Yard officer claimed that not enough was done to protect him after a spate of racist and violent abuse more than two months ago.

The 47-year-old alleged that the prisoner behind the earlier threats physically attacked him six days ago at HMP Prescoed in Wales.

Gwent Police launched an investigation after both men claimed they were assaulted by each other in a heated row.

Dizaei has been transferred to another open prison, believed to be Leyhill in south Gloucestershire, for his own safety.

A spokesman for Ralli Solicitors, who represent Dizaei, said that an inquiry was launched into the racist threats against him in June.

He said: "The matter was investigated and the prison found that '… it is highly probable that (the comments] contained a specific racist element …

"The investigation also concluded that '… it is inconceivable, on the evidence available, that you (Dizaei) were the perpetrator in this case.'"

Dizaei has endured a torrid time since he was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for corruption in February.

He began his sentence in Wandsworth jail, but was moved to Edmunds Hill prison in Suffolk, where he was involved in a fracas.

The former officer was then transferred to the category D facility at Prescoed in Monmouthshire, which specialises in housing sex offenders.

Dizaei was convicted of attempting to frame an Iraqi businessman when they fell out over money, following a trial in which the former police chief was accused of acting like a gangster.