10:41am Wednesday 30th April 2008
A LLANDYBIE councillor who was one of three people arrested at the home of retired Dyfed-Powys Police chief Terry Grange at the weekend has described the moment riot police stormed the house.
Meirion Bowen, who was held on suspicion of assault after an estate agent was allegedly injured in the Saturday morning fracas, maintains he was "in the wrong place at the wrong time".
And the 52-year-old year-old father-of-two, who insists it was no political stunt, says bail conditions imposed on him by the police have wrecked his campaign for county council election in Llandybie.
"There's no way I would knowingly have been involved in something like this in the run-up to the elections," he said.
Under the terms of the bail notice, which the Guardian has seen, Mr Bowen is prevented from approaching the homes of retired or serving members of Dyfed-Powys Police.
"This has destroyed my campaign because my good name and integrity has been damaged," he said.
"I cannot go out canvassing because there is a very real risk I will be arrested for breaking my bail conditions."
Mr Bowen was arrested along with Lady Leslie Cooper, who runs an animal sanctuary at Bancffosfelen and her daughter Kyra, who is from Tumble and had her ten-day old baby with her.
While Mr Bowen describes himself as a "case worker" for the Stand Your Ground pressure group, he says he had no advance warning of what was to happen at the Meinciau home of the former Chief Constable.
"Lady Cooper is a friend and I had gone with her to view the property as a favour," he said. "She mentioned she thought it was owned by Terry Grange."
Mr Bowen said he was outside the property with an Evans Bros estate agent when the women suddenly barricaded themselves inside and shouted that they were claiming squatters' rights.
"What happened was as big a shock to me as it was to the estate agent," said Mr Bowen.
"The women half-opened the door at one point and I saw the estate agent, who was trying to force his way back inside, throw some punches.
"He injured his arm by shoulder-barging the door - I was 30 feet away when it happened. There was one hell of a commotion.
"Then around 30 police officers turned up, obviously intending to storm the house.
"I heard screams as riot police in full battledress smashed their way in to arrest Lady Cooper and her daughter. Their response was totally over the top."
Mr Bowen was yesterday (Tuesday) waiting to see whether police press charges and calling for the election to be suspended.
Lady Cooper said afterwards her action followed her unhappiness over the way the police had handled a land dispute.
Mr Grange retired suddenly last November during an Independent Police Complaints Commission investigation into claims of financial irregularities and misuse of a police computer.
Earlier this month it was announced he would face no charges.
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