A MAN who was charged with assault after he and two others made a citizen’s arrest on a ‘thief trying people’s car doors’ has told of his relief after he was cleared.

Sadiq Patel was one of three men arrested for assault causing grievous bodily harm in May 2018 after the alleged would-be thief was found seriously injured in Blackburn.

While one of the trio was last month handed a 16-month suspended prison sentence for the attack on the man, Mr Patel and his friend Faizan Akbar learned no further action would be taken against them.

Mr Patel said he had always protested his innocence and the case against him should never have been pursued.

He said the ordeal had placed undue stress on him after he had a heart transplant in 2016.

Police said they would ‘not want to deter the community from helping the police by making a citizen’s arrest, however the amount of force used should always be proportionate’.

In this case, a police spokesman said, the victim suffered puncture wounds to his arm and bruising and CCTV footage showed the man had been attacked with a weapon, punched and kicked.

Mr Patel said: “This has been a nightmare for us, despite me pleading at the time we were the victims. “I am a heart transplant patient and this whole episode has put a lot of stress on me and my family.”

On May 30, 2018, Mr Patel spotted a man he alleged was trying to open car doors and house doors in The Coppice, Blackburn, in the early hours of the morning.

The man, Mr Patel said, then ran off after being challenged and Mr Patel called the police. The police searched the area but no one was found.

The man was spotted again later as Mr Patel joined two other men in Quebec Road, Blackburn, as they headed across the estate to his sister’s house in the early hours during Ramadan.

Mr Patel said: “While we were on our way there we saw the man again and one of us attempted to apprehend him. A struggle ensued and police were called again. They ended up arresting three of us.”

The trio were charged with assault causing actual bodily harm six months later and put on trial in September 2019. No verdict was reached in the cases of Mr Patel and Mr Akbar.

In March 2020 a retrial was adjourned, before the men learned there would be no further action taken against them in October 2020.

A third man was found guilty of causing actual bodily harm at a hearing on September 2019 and handed a 16-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, and 80 hours’ community service at Preston Crown Court on January 20, 2021.

Mr Patel said: “Two years of our lives have been wasted because we tried to do the decent thing and make a citizen’s arrest. This is what happens when you try to do the right thing.

“We are disappointed the suspect himself was not charged. The police in this case have sent out a message that if you do try to make a citizen’s arrest you could get arrested yourself.”

Police said they were called at 3.40am on May 30, 2018, to reports of a man being assaulted by three males in Quebec Road, Blackburn. This followed an earlier report that a man had been seen trying car doors.

A spokesperson said: “The victim was taken to hospital with significant injuries, including puncture wounds to his arm and bruising to his back and body. CCTV footage showed the man had been attacked with a weapon, punched and kicked,

“Three men were arrested on suspicion of GBH and perverting the course of justice. “Following consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service, they were later charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

"Following a trial one of the men was found guilty of ABH, while the others were acquitted.

“We would not want to deter the community from helping the police by making a citizen’s arrest, however the amount of force used should always be proportionate.”