What should have been an ordinary early morning at home became a terrifying ordeal for an elderly man who never imagined he would come face to face with armed police in his own kitchen.
A devastating error by emergency call handlers set off a chain of events that would leave lasting emotional and physical scars — and eventually force Scotland Yard into a costly settlement.
Mistaken Identity Sparks Armed Police Raid
At just after 7am on December 28, 2021, armed officers stormed the Cricklewood home of Roy Morton, a retired ballet dancer in his 80s.
The police were searching for a 26-year-old Black man suspected of being armed — but due to a serious mix-up, they arrived at the wrong address entirely.
Instead of finding a dangerous suspect, officers encountered Mr Morton, a frail pensioner with a pacemaker.
Within moments, he was Tasered in his kitchen, forced to the ground, handcuffed, and treated as a violent offender.
Arrested, Detained, and Terrified
Despite his age, heart condition, and the obvious mismatch in identity, Mr Morton was arrested on suspicion of affray.
He spent 11 hours in police custody, shaken and confused, after what he later described as one of the most frightening experiences of his life.
The raid happened because a police call handler failed to correctly verify the address linked to a firearms report — an error later confirmed during an internal review.
A Distinguished Career Overshadowed by Trauma
Before the incident, Mr Morton was best known for a remarkable career in the arts.
He performed with both the English National Ballet and English National Opera, appeared in major films like The Theory of Everything and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, and even had a speaking role as a page to the Queen in Netflix’s The Crown.
Now, he says the raid has left him with post-traumatic stress disorder and a stutter — conditions he had never suffered from before.
“I will never be the same person I was before this,” he said, describing how the incident made him feel vulnerable and old for the first time in his life.
Police Apology, But No Personal Accountability
The Metropolitan Police issued a public apology in January 2022 after media coverage exposed the incident.
However, Mr Morton says no officer has ever apologised to him directly.
Even more troubling for him, no officers were found guilty of misconduct.
Although the Met acknowledged serious mistakes were made, the force denied full liability, pushing the case toward a five-day trial scheduled for next month.
Legal Battle Ends With £50,000 Settlement
After years of legal wrangling, Scotland Yard agreed to settle Mr Morton’s civil claim on January 22, paying him close to £50,000.
His lawyer, Rachel Harger of Bindmans, criticised the police for dragging the case out despite early recognition that something had gone badly wrong.
She said it was deeply unfair that Mr Morton had to pursue legal action to the brink of trial just to achieve closure.
“The Money Isn’t the Point”
For Mr Morton, the payout offers little comfort.
He insists the issue was never about compensation but accountability and compassion.
“I could have died,” he said, adding that the force wasted time and taxpayer money by fighting the claim instead of resolving it sooner.
He has since sold the house that was raided and plans to use the settlement to buy a new home — somewhere he can feel safe again.
Police Response and Promised Reforms
Detective Chief Superintendent Neil Smithson said the Met “wholeheartedly” apologises and recognises the impact the incident has had on Mr Morton.
He also acknowledged the long delay in reaching a resolution.
The force says it has reviewed the incident thoroughly and introduced new training for all call handlers to prevent similar mistakes in the future.
What’s Next?
While the legal case is now closed, serious questions remain about accountability, police decision-making, and how vulnerable people are protected during armed operations.
For Mr Morton, the hope is simple — to move forward, rebuild his sense of safety, and find peace after an experience that forever altered his life.
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