A MARLBOROUGH man who is planning to sue Wiltshire Police for compensation has asked the county's new Police and Crime Commissioner to look into his arrest and prosecution for an alleged public order offence.

Peter Murphy wrote to new PCC for Swindon and Wiltshire, Philip Wilkinson before his success in the recent election re-run.

In a response to Mr Murphy, Mr Wilkinson said: "Should I be elected, I will ensure that a proper investigation is carried out and let you know the results."

Mr Murphy, 52, of Harley Court, Marlborough, is seeking compensation for false imprisonment, assault and battery after a court in Swindon dismissed charges against him on May 20.

Mr Murphy, formerly an Olympic Games and Commonwealth Games senior spokesman, was arrested at his home on July 31 last year and charged with a public order offence to which he pleaded not guilty.

He said: "I wrote to Mr Wilkinson on August 19 after meeting him briefly on Marlborough High Street last week.

"In what must be almost his first action in his new role, he’s promised to order an investigation into my arrest and prosecution. Though I suspect this will have to wait until my legal action is settled."

After being arrested, charged and then released from Melksham Custody Centre on August 1 last year, Mr Murphy, who suffers from heart problems, was admitted to the Great Western Hospital in Swindon for treatment to a blood clot after collapsing at home and being unable to summon help straightaway.

He spent a week in the GWR recovering from the blood clot, which he claims was caused by the stress he suffered after being arrested and held overnight in a police cell.

Mr Murphy says he is "incandescent with rage" by what happened to him and intends to sue the Wiltshire Force for compensation and costs.

He is claiming he suffered distress, discomfort and inconvenience, loss of liberty and damage from being arrested and charged.