A MAN whose house was raided by mistake says he cannot believe police will not pay for the damage they caused.

Trevor Andrews was in the living room of his house in Ferndale Road when it was stormed by police looking for drugs.

Mr Andrews, 47, said: "I saw a police car outside, then all of a sudden the window came crashing in.

"They didn't knock, they just smashed through the double-glazed window in the front door. Then about five of them came in.

"One came straight up to me and put handcuffs on me and asked if there was anyone else in the house.

"They asked my name and how old I was then they started to half strip search me.

"I don't think it took them long to realise they were in the wrong place."

Mr Andrews said officers were rifling through many of his possessions when one of them received a phone call.

He said: "He went downstairs to answer it. Then they all left again.

"I was in such a state, I didn't know what was going on. They took off the handcuffs and left me, but they didn't really say anything to me about why they were suddenly leaving again."

Mr Andrews was so shocked that he had been falsely targeted, he wrote to the police to complain.

"I have just had a letter back from them," he said. "It just said they were within their rights. There was no apology or explanation.

"They just said they were sorry to hear about my situation but were unable to compensate me for the damage because public funds were down."

Mr Andrews, who works for Swindon Services, had to pay £200 to have the glass panel repaired.

"Basically all I wanted was an apology and for them to pay for the window they broke," he said.

"It makes you wonder how many other people they have raided by mistake.

"They can't have done any surveillance or they would have known they got it wrong before they smashed their way into my home.

"It could have been my neighbours, who are both in their eighties, and it would have given them a heart attack from the shock."

Insp Adrian Burt, who wrote to Mr Austin explaining he would not be receiving any compensation said: "A warrant under Section 23 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 was obtained and executed as a result of intelligence from the community.

"This intelligence would have gone through rigorous testing before the warrant was sworn before a magistrate.

"On this rare occasion no drugs were found.

"I have reviewed this particular case and the actions of the police are lawful, proportionate and necessary based on the community intelligence.

"It would be wrong to issue public funds for compensation on this occasion.

"The fight against drugs is paramount in order to reduce crime and bring those individuals who offend to justice."