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A student who stopped to give money to a homeless person was handcuffed by a police officer who thought they were swapping drugs.

Apprentice George Wilson, from Wallasey, received a £5,000 pay out after police accepted he had been detained unlawfully.

A shocking recording of the incident reveals that when Mr Wilson denied he was behaving in a drunk and disorderly manner, as police had alleged, the officer replies: “That’s not how I’ll write it up pal.”

The altercation between Mr Wilson and the officer, after a night out in Liverpool city centre, was recorded on the student’s phone.

Mr Wilson, a student at Liverpool John Moores University at the time, claims the police officer threatened to falsify a statement saying he was drunk and disorderly and also unlawfully detained him but has now settled out of court.

Merseyside Police has accepted Mr Wilson, 20, was detained unlawfully but say the officer’s comments were subject to interpretation.

Mr Wilson had just left Heebie Jeebie’s nightclub on Seel Street about 2am on January 11, 2014, when he spotted a homeless man and gave him a £1 coin.

Watching police officers thought Mr Wilson was exchanging drugs with the homeless man.

Mr Wilson was stopped by a police officer and detained under the Misuse of Drugs Act whilst another officer approached the homeless man.

The officer removed Mr Wilson’s phone from him and accidentally switched it to record.

The conversation continued as follows:

Police officer: “Can I ask what you were doing... we saw an exchange take place between you and...”

Mr Wilson: “Do you know how many times in town we’ve walked through and beggars ask a lot of people for money on the street.”

Police officer: “You’ve got nothing to worry about.”

Mr Wilson: “I’ve got nothing to worry about. However I campaign and I’m also a student of the law.”

Police officer: “Look buddy, if I lock you up for being drunk and disorderly, cos that’s what you are being, you won’t be a student of the law anymore. I’ll take that off ya. So shut your mouth and stop being stupid.”

Mr Wilson: “I haven’t committed disorder. I haven’t committed disorder. I’ve been polite. I’ve been respectful.”

Police officer: “That’s not how I’ll write it up pal.”

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The handcuffs were then removed from Mr Wilson and he was told to walk away.

Mr Wilson claims the comments by the police officer suggested he planned to falsify a statement saying he was drunk and disorderly.

The matter was dealt with by Merseyside Police with the officer called to a misconduct meeting.

The officer said he was not threatening to falsify a statement but saying he did not accept Mr Wilson had not been drunk and disorderly.

An investigation by Merseyside Police concluded the words could be interpreted differently and the officer was advised not to use them again.

It was upheld that once the homeless man had been searched and no drugs were found, Mr Wilson should have been released and as such he was detained for longer than necessary.

Mr Wilson, who left university after a year and now works as an apprentice for Bentley Motors, told the ECHO: “I felt let down by the police and felt victimised by them. I felt it was a relief to settle the claim, although it wasn’t all upheld so I still feel in a way proper justice wasn’t found.”

Lawyer Adam Quick, of James Murray Solicitors, was representing Mr Wilson and said: “Mr Wilson is a young man of exemplary good character, had done nothing wrong and the audio footage confirms that. Not only was Mr Wilson subject to an unlawful detention. He was clearly not drunk or disorderly and he was entitled to ask the officers questions regarding his detention.

“The comments and language used by the officer were shocking. It is disappointing that the complaints department did not see these comments in the manner that Mr Wilson believes they were intended, although it is hoped that the award of compensation will help him move on with his life.

“It is important that the public are made aware that they do not have to accept such treatment by police officers.”

A Merseyside Police spokesman, said: “The force can confirm that it sought legal advice before a settlement amount was negotiated before this case went to trial.

“The officer involved in this incident was spoken to about the matter at a misconduct meeting earlier in the year and was provided with advice and training.

“Merseyside Police remains absolutely committed to the highest integrity and the professional standards of its officers at all times.”