A man who was falsely accused of being responsible for a police officer breaking his leg has received thousands of pounds in compensation.

The individual, who is not being named, was charged with GBH following a scuffle outside Watford Junction railway station in March 2017.

The man had been on a night out with friends in Watford town centre when he was arrested for being drunk and disorderly.

He was led away from the scene and taken to the train station where property which had been taken from him during his arrest was returned.

It was at this point the man claimed some of his cash was missing. According to a blog post published on March 18 by his solicitor Andrew Frederick, the man asked the police about the missing cash, but after failing to receive answers, tried to stop police from leaving the scene.

The situation then escalated with the man grabbed by one officer who attempted to roll him over in a "judo-style throw".

But Mr Frederick says his client's weight was too much for the officer's leg to bear and he ended up fracturing his leg close to his ankle.

Watford Observer: Watford Junction railway station. Credit: Watford Borough Council Watford Junction railway station. Credit: Watford Borough Council

The man would go on to be charged with GBH, which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. According to Mr Frederick, court proceedings would last more than 18 months despite CCTV and body-worn footage from officers showing the man was not responsible for the fracture.

After being found not guilty by a jury of GBH, the man filed a claim against Hertfordshire Constabulary for assault and battery, false imprisonment, and malicious prosecution.

After several months, the force agreed to settle the matter.

A spokesperson for Hertfordshire Constabulary: "Following the criminal case being dismissed, Hertfordshire Constabulary accepted that, regrettably, the arrest had been unlawful.

"We were in contact with the complainant’s legal team and agreed to settle the matter in recognition of the distress caused.

"The matter was settled amicably and the complainant was paid compensation for wrongful arrest and unlawful detention."

Watford Observer: Hertfordshire Constabulary's headquarters in Welwyn Garden City. Credit: Google MapsHertfordshire Constabulary's headquarters in Welwyn Garden City. Credit: Google Maps (Image: Google Street View)

The man says he holds "no animosity" towards the officer who broke his leg and says he hopes he has made a full recovery.

Mr Frederick wrote in his blog: "[My client] knows that the decision to prosecute him was taken by other people. It is those people he holds responsible for the 18 months of worry he suffered thinking that he may go to prison for a long time for something he hadn’t done.

"If it hadn’t been for the CCTV cameras and officers’ body-worn video cameras things could have ended very differently for him."