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A dad claimed yesterday he was battered and given a kung fu-style kicking by police who thought he was a joyrider fleeing a stolen car.

Farmer David Markham, 35, claims he was attacked by two officers when he stepped outside his bungalow after hearing a car crash.

The married dad-of-three spent seven hours in hospital after the attack and has only 40 per cent vision in his left eye and bruising to his head, ribs and back.

David said: "You don't expect to walk out of your front door and be battered by the police.

"I thought I was going to die - it was like something out of Life On Mars.

"One officer ran towards me and knocked me to the ground with a kung fu kick in the ribs. Then he kicked me in the eye and three or four times on the back of the head while I was face down on the ground.

"The other officer sat on my back pummelling me. I was in agony and screaming for help from my wife and I was shouting, 'You've got the wrong man - it isn't me'."

Police were hunting for a passenger who fled from a stolen car. The driver was arrested. The drama unfolded when David and eight-week pregnant wife Stephanie were woken by one of their children crying at 5am on Sunday on their farm in Corley, near Coventry.

David, a chicken breeder, explained when he heard police sirens he got out of bed and went to see if he could help.

He said: "I met a police officer on the drive. He grabbed both my hands and asked for my name and date of birth - which I gave him.

"He wanted to know my telephone number but didn't accuse me of anything - he just asked me questions. Then the officer let go of one of my hands and waved over a second policeman.

"He then came charging at me full tilt and kicked me to the ground kung-fu style."

David's brother Dan is a director on BBC TV programme Crimewatch UK, while second brother Matt is a detective chief inspector and third brother Richard is a police sergeant.

The farmer said: "I didn't imagine the police could ever behave in this way. I've always had a really high respect for my brothers and we bring up our children to respect the law - but how do you tell an eight-year-old you've just been beaten up by the police?

"I don't know why they did what they did. There was no reason for it at all. Even if I had stolen a car I wouldn't expect to end up looking like this and be beaten up."

David - who is 6ft 2in and weighs 15st - said he intends to sue.

A police spokeswoman said yesterday: "Warwickshire Police can confirm that a complaint has been made by Mr Markham following an incident that took place in the early hours of Sunday 22 June.

"This matter is currently being investigated and the Independent Police Complaint Commission have been informed. It is inappropriate to comment further at this time."

The spokeswoman added: "Future deployments for the officers concerned are being considered."