A MAN accused of murdering a schoolboy after detectives found a single fingerprint at the crime scene is suing the police.

Alwin White was arrested as a 16-year-old for the murder of Simon Martin, 14, but the charge was dropped after five months.

Mr White, now 26, is claiming damages from Northumbria Police, alleging wrongful arrest and malicious prosecution.

He claims his life was blighted by the accusation that he had killed Simon, whose battered body was found in a derelict house in Sunderland in 1990.

The High Court in Newcastle heard that the boys were pupils at the same school, although Mr White knew Simon only by sight.

But, after a single fingerprint was found at the crime scene, Mr White was arrested, the court was told.

Simon had disappeared from his home in Southwick, Sunderland, a few days before his body was discovered at the now-demolished property.

Mr White, also from Sunderland, admitted going to the house, which was a popular haunt with glue-sniffers and tramps, a year before with his girlfriend.

His barrister, Matthew Caswell, told the court that no forensic link had ever been established and the evidence gathered showed he could not have been the assailant.

Mr Caswell said: "It is our case that the opinion of the police officers was quite mistaken and quite unreasonable.

"We say the arrest of Alwin was a rash act by the police and was unreasonable."

The court heard that the killer has never been found.

The hearing continues.