Tasered blind man in fight 
for damages

A BLIND stroke victim who was shot in the back with a 50,000-volt Taser stun gun by a police officer who mistook his white stick for a samurai sword is launching a bid for compensation.

Colin Farmer, 62, collapsed to the ground in shock and believed he might be dying from another stroke.

The blunder happened on Friday October 12 after reports were received of a man walking through the town centre of Chorley, Lancashire, with a martial arts weapon.

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Mr Farmer, who has suffered two strokes and walks at a snail’s pace, was on his way to a pub to meet friends for a drink and did not realise anything was afoot until the officer Tasered him.

Yesterday his solicitors confirmed Mr Farmer was planning to launch a civil claim against Lancashire police.

Mr Farmer told ITV he wanted the officer involved to be charged with assault.

Last week Lancashire Police apologised to Mr Farmer for the “traumatic experience” but confirmed that the officer who fired the Taser has not been suspended and remains on duty.

They said an urgent investigation had been launched into the incident and the matter has also been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.