A HARROW man says he was mistreated by police after they broke his designer watch and pushed him against a wall.

Asad Riaz, 29, who teaches English to young people, intervened when he saw five officers crowd round a teenager in Station Road, Harrow Town Centre, pressing his arms behind his back and handcuffing him.

He said: “They said he was the victim of a crime and was seeking retribution.

“I understand the police have a difficult job but when I saw five men arresting one young person who hadn't been violent and aggressive, who looked quite scared it didn't sit right with me.

“That's the reason I got involved.”

He says he asked them if it was necessary to use so much force but CCTV footage shows he had his hands in the air for much of the incident, at the junction with St John's Road, on February 25.

Several officers initially moved him back but as he continued to question them the incident became more physical and several pushed him up against the wall on two occasions before forcing his hands behind his back.

A Bell and Ross watch given to him as a birthday present by his brother was broken, along with his bag, and he was forced to spend eight hours in custody.

He was eventually charged with obstructing or resisting a constable in execution of duty but prosecutors offered no evidence in a hearing at Harrow Magistrates Court on Thursday last week.

It was recognised that he should have been cautioned at the time and he was discharged with no criminal record.

He says he plans to lodge a complaint with the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

Elaine Foster-Searle, a spokesman for the Met, said officers were “approached by a man who was aggressive and obstructive towards them”.

She said: “Despite continuous requests for the man, aged 29, to move away from the area, he refused and was subsequently arrested.

“Following consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service the man was charged with obstructing a constable in the execution of duty and bailed to appear at Harrow Magistrates Court on Thursday, March 3.”

Christian Taylor, a spokesman for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), said: “The CPS has a duty to keep cases under continuous review and every crown prosecutor must follow the guidance set out in the Code for Crown Prosecutors so as to ensure that all decisions are both fair and consistent.

“In this case it was deemed that a caution would have been more appropriate at the time of the offence and we invited the Court to bind the defendant over.”