A FAMILY is suing for compensation after armed police mistakenly arrested a 13-year-old girl and took her away in handcuffs during a bungled raid.

The four armed police who burst into Samantha Broughton's house were looking for armed Jamaican Yardie drug dealers, Middlesbrough County Court was told.

The teenager, who is now 17, relived the moment the police stormed her home carrying MP5 machine pistols.

The youngster told the jury how she was ordered to lie on the floor of her bedroom at her family's Middlesbrough home.

She was handcuffed and told she was under arrest for conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.

She told the jury: "I was frightened and scared. I just wanted to be with my mum."

PC Justin Moffitt, of Cleveland Police's armed response unit, told the court: "She was bewildered and very surprised and shocked to see armed police entering her bedroom, as anybody would.

"She was bewildered and asking what was going on.

"But at no time did she tell us that she was only 13."

PC Moffitt said he radioed for advice on the National Firearms channel.

He said: "I was informed that the female was to be arrested for conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.

"I did not find out until the incident was completed how old she was.

"I handcuffed her to ensure there was no threat to myself or my colleague, so that she could not assault me or my colleague or reach for our weapons. We had side arms as well.

"I always take steps to ensure that every possibility is catered for."

Samantha's parents, Vera and Malcolm Broughton, were on holiday at the time of the incident. She was staying with her sister, but had returned to her family's two-bedroomed terraced house in central Middlesbrough to play on her computer.

PC Moffitt said: "We were told that the operation was directed at suspected armed Jamaican Yardies.

"As I entered the bedroom I saw a female with her back to me at the window.

"I thought she was about 18 years old and I told her to get on the floor."

Samantha, now 17, is suing for damages through her mother for unlawful arrest at their home in Egerton Street, Middlesbrough, on June 14, 2000.

The case continues.