A pensioner has been left without a front door for a month after police battered it down during a fire at a neighbouring property and refused to pay for a replacement.
Nicholas Michaels, 69, was out for dinner when a neighbour called him to say there was smoke coming from a window.
By the time he arrived home 10 minutes later the road had been closed by the police and he was told he could not enter due to it being in the ‘danger zone’ of the fire.
Around an hour later, Mr Michaels was escorted back to his home in Basingstoke, Hampshire – only to find that his front door had been smashed and his upstairs windows had been left open.
This had allowed smoke to enter, which had then covered his bathroom and kitchen.
Officers said they broke the door down because they were concerned that he may have been asleep – despite the fire being contained to a neighbouring shop.
Mr Michaels was reassured by officers who apologised and told him the force would pay for the damage the next day.
The pensioner has lived alone in his flat since 1984 and was the victim of a violent home invasion in July 1998, which left him with brain damage.
Nicholas Michaels, 69, pictured outside his front door which is still broken a month after police battered it down
Police broke the door down saying they were concerned that Mr Michaels was asleep in his home
He was unable to see in colour for a year and had to relearn how to read and write – ending his career as a computer engineer.
Contractors came out to provide a quote the day after the incident, on August 26, and told him it would cost about £3,000 to fix but there was no contact from Hampshire Police.
On September 12 he wrote an email to the Chief Constable asking when he could expect payment.
The Force’s solicitor told him four days later that they were still awaiting details about the incident – yet Mr Michaels is still waiting.
Mr Michaels said: ‘I have been treated with disdain and contempt.
‘It seems they have forgotten about me.
‘It kind of brought it all back and re-traumatised me. I started to feel nervous living here again.’
He said that the incident brought up trauma from the incident 27 years ago.
His door was broken despite the fire being confined to the nearby shop
The pensioner has lived alone in his flat since 1984 and was the victim of a violent home invasion in July 1998
He admitted that ‘everyone makes mistakes’ but trusted the police to put it right.
A spokesperson for Hampshire Constabulary said: ‘As with all live incidents, preservation of life is our priority.
‘In an ongoing situation, where people’s lives could be at risk, our officers act responsibly and will not hesitate to do everything they can to ensure people are safe and accounted for.
‘During this fast-moving incident, officers responded to a significant ongoing fire at an address on St Peter’s Road, Basingstoke, on Tuesday, August 26.
‘The officers were quickly on scene, and due to the severity of the fire, swiftly decided it was necessary to force entry to the premises above the fire due to concerns that someone may have been inside.
‘Officers searched the property, which was already full of smoke, and they were able to confirm that no one was inside and ensured that all nearby properties were evacuated.
‘We have since explained to the owner of the property that officers forced entry to ensure he was not inside the address.
‘As the forced entry was lawful and reasonable in accordance with Section 17 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE 1984), we are unable to meet the cost of repairs from public funds, however, the man was advised to contact the relevant insurance company.
‘We sympathise with the homeowner, however, due to the nature of policing duties, loss and damage is sometimes inevitably caused and the force does not have the funds to pay compensation, unless there is a legal requirement to do so.’
