Police frisk disabled father in their hunt for 'staggering' thief

A DISABLED man has lodged a complaint against the police after officers hunting for a "staggering" thief stopped and searched him in the street – because of his limp.

Charles Corbett, who suffers from severe rheumatoid arthritis and struggles to walk, was stopped by the two officers as he took his five-year-old son to the shops.

The 27-year-old said the uniformed officers asked him why he had a limp before carrying out a search without offering any explanation.

Mr Corbett said his son, Aaron, was left "hysterical" as he watched his father being checked over by the officers in the busy High Street in Bonnyrigg, Midlothian.

The officers spent ten minutes checking out Mr Corbett, including a computer check to determine whether he was the subject of any outstanding warrants.

Police had been hunting for a man who had raked through bins at the rear of the Lloyds pharmacy on the same street and drank dregs of methadone from containers that had apparently been thrown away.

The suspect had been described as staggering away from the scene, and a 29-year-old man was later arrested and charged with reckless conduct.

Mr Corbett, who lives in a specially adapted home with his partner, Helen, 25, in Raes Gardens in Bonnyrigg, said he was left "really shaken" by the experience.

He said: "It was about 11.45am on Sunday and I was taking my son, who was riding his bike, to the shops to buys some rolls and a newspaper.

"A police car pulled up beside me and the officers asked me why I had a limp. I told them it was because I had arthritis. Aaron started to get upset at seeing the police questioning me.

"They never said they were looking for this man who was at the chemists. Instead, they just asked me if they could search me. Aaron was getting more upset, so I said yes.

"It was a full pat-down search, which was humiliating because the street was really busy as the church had just let out.

"Then they asked for my name so they could go and check me for outstanding warrants. The whole thing took about ten minutes and my son was left hysterical. He's frightened of the police now."

Mr Corbett has suffered from serious arthritis for the past five years. The condition affects his knees, ankles and hands, and has left him unable to work.

He added: "I was left really shaken because I never got an explanation about why they stopped me. I was just ignored by the officers. They should've given me some reason, especially in front of my son. That's why I made a complaint to the police. I feel like I deserve an apology."

Mr Corbett said he only learned that police had been searching for the methadone thief after visiting Dalkeith Police Station to lodge his complaint.

A police spokesman said: "Following reports of an incident at Lloyds pharmacy on High Street, Bonnyrigg, police officers apprehended a man in the area to undertake further enquiries.

"The man was questioned in connection with the incident, which happened nearby. He willingly assisted with inquiries, and was subsequently free to go."

The spokesman added: "A 29-year-old man was arrested and charged with reckless conduct following an incident in High Street on Sunday, 7 March. He was scheduled to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court the following day."

A Lloyds pharmacy spokes-woman said: "We confirm that there was an incident last week outside our pharmacy in the High Street, Bonnyrigg, where a waste bin was tampered with.

"Police are investigating the incident and we are assisting them in their inquiries."