Police ‘stamp on Billy Elliot ballet dancer’s ankle’ during arrest leaving him ‘unable to jump’

A Billy Elliot ballet star who was mistaken for a ‘terrorist’ and stamped on by a Met police officer could receive £600,000 compensation.

Alexander Loxton suffered an ankle ligament injury during a Met Police’s stop-and-search in September 2016, which ended his ‘Premier League’ ballet ambitions just as he had begun to carve out a promising career.

The search happened when Alexander, now 36, had gone to Kennington police station, hoping to retrieve a stolen helmet visor and motor scooter.

His barrister, Fiona Murphy KC, told the Central London County Court this was where he was confronted by a group of officers.

He was mistaken for a ‘terrorist’ or thief and was subjected to ‘unreasonable force’ when an officer stamped on his foot during the search.

A police car was also reversed towards him, before one of the officers got out and demanded he identified himself, Ms Murphy said.

Ms Murphy said: ‘Mr Loxton tensed. The officer did not succeed in taking control of the claimant’s left arm.

‘He stamped his foot repeatedly on the claimant’s left foot while pulling on the claimant’s left arm – the officer insisted he never did this.

‘The officer pushed and pulled him about while clamping down on the claimant’s left foot.’

Alexander was held against a wall as the officer continued to search him and while doing so, he repeatedly stamped his foot down on his ankle, Ms Murphy explained to the court.

The Met denied the force used was over-the-top, and the lead officer claimed Alexander was ‘very aggressive and extremely evasive’.

When giving evidence, the officer said the former ballet star was spotted ‘brazenly looking into the yard’ where the bikes had been stolen previously.

This led the officer to suspect Alexander was ‘there either to break into the police yard or conduct an activity related terrorism.’

However, Judge David Saunders said the lead officer had ‘considerably overreacted’ and was ‘far too hasty in forming conclusions.’

‘This was not a situation where he was in any way being furtive.

‘I found it unusual that the officer was seeking to get hold of Mr Loxton before he had been given a chance to explain himself in a situation where he had already explained himself,’ the judge said.

Alexander was left with permanent injuries to his ligaments in his ankle, as well as, soft tissue injuries to his thumb, wrist and fingers.

He also complains of feelings of ‘distress, anxiety, embarrassment, humiliation and degradation.’

Despite intensive rehab efforts, his injuries meant he was unable to cope with high-pressure ballet work.

Ms Murphy said: ‘He was and remains unable to tolerate the full repertoire of dance manoeuvres, with particular difficulties in the areas of jumping, changing direction and landing.’

Alexander had a classical ballet education at the prestigious Royal Ballet Upper School, where his ‘dedication, ability and talent’ were praised, the court heard.

At the time of the arrest, his career was just starting to take off as he took the role of Older Billy in London’s Victoria Palace Theatre’s production of hit West End musical Billy Elliot.

He also starred with Keira Knightley and Helen Mirren in Disney’s ‘The Nutcracker’ and played the role of Peter Rabbit at Queen Elizabeth II’s 80th birthday garden party.

So far, the judge has awarded him with £24,000 in ‘general damages’ and a provisional £10,000 in ‘aggravated damages’ to reflect the ‘oppressive and humiliating’ impact of his arrest.

Judge Saunders said he will consider the full issue of compensation at a future date.

Alexander has submitted a compensation claim just shy of £600,000.

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