Bradford City footballer handcuffed while police ‘searched car for drugs and guns’ as he visited shops with girlfriend
SHOCKING footage shows a footballer being handcuffed and having his luxury car searched for “drugs and guns” by police. Ben Richards-Everton, 28, a Bradford City defender, was confronted by cops last month as he left a shop in broad daylight in Sutton Coldfield, near Birmingham. The sportsman’s girlfriend filmed on her phone as Mr Richards-Everton […]
SHOCKING footage shows a footballer being handcuffed and having his luxury car searched for “drugs and guns” by police.
Ben Richards-Everton, 28, a Bradford City defender, was confronted by cops last month as he left a shop in broad daylight in Sutton Coldfield, near Birmingham.
The sportsman’s girlfriend filmed on her phone as Mr Richards-Everton was handcuffed by the officers who he alleged pointed a Taser at him.
West Midlands Police said they detained the car’s driver after the license plate number was flagged for drugs and firearms on their system.
However, nothing was found in the vehicle which Mr Richards-Everton says he bought from a reputable company a few weeks ago.
In the clip, the footballer can heard saying his detainment is “disgraceful”.
He said: “When I’m fully legal? What cos I got a nice car?
“You pointing a Taser at me?”
He added: “You put me in cuffs for no reason…you hate us cos I’m driving a nice car. Seen yous from a mile off man.”
West Midlands Police told the BBC: “Nothing was found in the car and it’s now thought that the number plates, which sparked the suspicion, are cloned.
“Given the intelligence around potential firearms one of the officers drew a Taser. It was put away shortly after without being used.”
Richards-Everton said he is seeking legal advice and considering making a formal complaint to the police.
This comes as more than 70 per cent of drivers stopped on suspicion of drug driving in London are of ethnic minority background – and most haven’t committed any crime.
The shocking figures have emerged after British sprinter Bianca Williams accused cops of “racial profiling” during a heavy-handed stop and search in the city earlier this month.
New data obtained by The Sun Online shows that 7,796 of the 11,026 drivers stopped and searched by the Metropolitan Police in April and the start of May were from Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds.
Of those who were stopped, more BAME drivers than any other ethnicity were released with no further action.
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Meanwhile, illegally cloned number plates can be purchased in a matter of seconds on Britain’s streets as a booming crime craze leaves thousands of drivers framed for offences they didn’t commit.
A Sun investigation has found government-registered suppliers selling plates without legal checks confirming the vehicle’s owner or asking for ID.
Figures obtained by Sun Online show the number of cloning reports to the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) has more than doubled to around 6,500 in the last year.
But little more than 200 new registration numbers were issued to victims.
