AN Asian man is calling for an independent investigation after police were found to have fabricated evidence against him when he complained he was racially abused by an officer.

Cleveland Police have agreed to pay a five-figure sum to Karim Allison after the 51-year-old successfully sued for malicious arrest and misfeasance in public office. Unemployed Mr Allison took legal action after making a complaint that an officer, PC Richard Davidson, refused to shake his hand because he “didn’t like the colour”.

The comment was allegedly made after Mr Allison’s partner had been stopped in her car for a minor traffic offence in January 2007.

Mr Allison arrived at the scene minutes later and asked the officer what had happened. He claims that after refusing to shake his hand because of his colour, the officer backtracked, saying it was because it was covered in paint thinners.

Later that day, Mr Allison made a complaint to Inspector Andrew Stohlner, at Middlesbrough police’s Dunning Road station.

Mr Allison claims that instead of investigating the complaint fully, officers invented evidence that led to him being prosecuted for obstructing a police officer.

He was initially found guilty at Teesside Magistrates’ Court. However, the prosecution was overturned on appeal and Mr Allison began legal action against the force.

After a five-day hearing this month, a jury at Middlesbrough Combined Court Centre agreed that a statement made by PC Davidson contained fabrications.

Mr Allison said the case left him feeling disgusted with the police and the legal system.

He said: “I wanted to make a valid complaint to a police officer and this is how Cleveland Police dealt with it.

“There should be a criminal investigation into what happened, but it needs to be done by a force other than Cleveland.”

Cleveland Police said the original complaint of racism had been thoroughly investigated by the force and found to be unsubstantiated.

A spokeswoman said: “The force is satisfied that inconsistencies referred to in the civil case were because the officer concerned was new in post and inexperienced, rather than any fabrication.

“Other allegations made by Mr Allison were not proven, as the jury made no findings in relation to these.”

After Clevelend Police rejected his original complaint, Mr Allinson appealed to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).

The IPCC said it assessed this appeal and agreed with the outcome of the force’s own investigation.