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Cleveland Police has been accused of unlawfully raiding the home of a 71-year-old character witness for a man who once successfully sued the force.

The pensioner tried to kill herself in a police cell before she was released without charge, Teesside Crown Court heard.

The lawyer representing Karim Allison, 57, made allegations of “misconduct and malpractice” during a court hearing today.

Simon Perkins, defending, said: “Mr Karim Allison was going to call a 71-year-old lady as a witness of character, and her house was raided unlawfully without a warrant.”

He said she was arrested, purportedly under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act, and made an attempt on her own life in a cell.

“Then (she) was released without charge two days before she was supposed to be giving evidence.”

Allison, of Blanchland Road, Priestfields, Middlesbrough , was in court accused of breaching a restraining order. He has not yet entered a plea to the charge.

He is appealing against the conviction which led to the restraining order.

He was found guilty of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour by Teesside magistrates in October last year.

It was alleged he hurled hateful and homophobic insults at a disabled woman, her gay son and his partner, calling her names while she walked her dog outside her home in a “bitter neighbour dispute”.

He was given a 12-month community order with supervision, the restraining order banning him from contacting the victims and ordered to pay £600 costs and £200 compensation.

In 2011 Cleveland Police agreed to pay a five-figure sum to Allison after a jury found they invented evidence against him when he accused an officer of racism.

He successfully sued the force for malicious prosecution and misfeasance in public office.

A civil court found that fabrications were made in a statement which led to his prosecution for obstructing an officer concerning an incident in 2007.

Mr Perkins said today: “This goes back over 10 years since Mr Allison first took his stand against Cleveland Police .”

The appeal will be heard at Newcastle Crown Court in June, with a further hearing in the breach allegation on May 5.

Judge Sean Morris bailed Allison in the meantime.