Man to sue police for false imprisonment

A Liverpool man who spent six weeks in jail after what were thought to be Class A drugs turned out to be anabolic steroids is threatening to sue Manx police.

Stephen Parkhill was arrested and charged with possession of the Class A drugs after police found 40 pills as he got off the Manannan at the Sea Terminal on July 25th.

But after spending 45 days on remand at the Isle of Man Prison in Jurby a test revealed the tablets were actually steroids and he was given an absolute discharge by Magistrates when he admitted possessing the Class C substances.

Now the 27-year-old says he plans legal action following the mix-up.

Parkhill says his grandmother died while he was in prison and he missed her funeral - and he's been homeless since returning to Merseyside.

The drugs were first identified by officers using a field test and it was only weeks later a forensic analysis properly identified them.

Parkhill claims he was falsely imprisoned and will now take court action.

Inspector Derek Flint says an internal investigation is being held and police will liaise with the courts once that's completed.