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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/jan/10/blind-man-tasered-police-compensation
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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Blind man Tasered by police seeks compensation | Blind man Tasered by police seeks compensation |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| A blind stroke victim has made a claim for compensation after he 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. | A blind stroke victim has made a claim for compensation after he 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. |
| Colin Farmer, 63, collapsed in shock and believed he might be dying from another stroke. | Colin Farmer, 63, collapsed in shock and believed he might be dying from another stroke. |
| The incident happened on 12 October after reports were received of a man walking through the town centre in Chorley, Lancashire, with a martial arts weapon. | The incident happened on 12 October after reports were received of a man walking through the town centre in Chorley, Lancashire, with a martial arts weapon. |
| Farmer, who has had two strokes and walks at a "snail's pace", was on his way to meet friends at a pub for a drink and did not realise anything was wrong until the officer Tasered him. | Farmer, who has had two strokes and walks at a "snail's pace", was on his way to meet friends at a pub for a drink and did not realise anything was wrong until the officer Tasered him. |
| He sent a letter to Lancashire police on Wednesday, claiming damages for assault, false imprisonment and a breach of his human rights. He is also seeking a declaration of incompatibility from the high court in relation to the use of the Taser. | He sent a letter to Lancashire police on Wednesday, claiming damages for assault, false imprisonment and a breach of his human rights. He is also seeking a declaration of incompatibility from the high court in relation to the use of the Taser. |
| An investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission is under way. Lancashire police were unable to comment. | An investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission is under way. Lancashire police were unable to comment. |
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