A BLACK man who says he was driven from York because of police harassment has won an out-of-court cash settlement.

Keith Hardy, 27, says he wants to get on with his life in his new home of Leicester now a three-year battle to bring North Yorkshire Police to court has ended.

Mr Hardy took civil action in 2001 against the force, and at Leicester County Court claimed that officers stopped him on 22 occasions between 1995 and 1998.

The documents also allege that he was arrested once, issued three fixed penalties, sent one formal letter and involved in a shouting match with officers outside his home.

Mr Hardy claims that during these encounters he suffered racist abuse, threats and minor assault.

Mr Hardy said he "lived in fear" of police raids while his adoptive family, whom he had lived with in Heworth Green since the age of three, endured years of worry.

He said: "I've been accused of a public order offence, criminal damage assault, and drug dealing.

"All of these allegations were false and I have never been convicted of any of them.

"The lawsuit I filed against the police was for false imprisonment, malicious prosecutions, assault and harassment. I left York before I was wrongly accused of a serious crime.

"At the end of the day I'm a 6ft 4in black man and some police officers may have seen too many films. They don't know that I've been brought up by a good family."

The catalogue of police stops, searches and arrests began soon after Mr Hardy's 18th birthday, when he was arrested outside a York nightclub for an alleged public order offence. The charges were dropped.

Despite his claims of being stopped 22 times, including three times in one week by the same officer, and being arrested, he says he has only ever been convicted of two minor driving offences.

Mr Hardy, who once considered joining the police, said: "When it was really bad I was doing little else than going to the police station to show my driving documents or being arrested.

"I know it happened but I find it hard sometimes to believe it. It feels like it happened to someone else. I didn't think stuff like this happened before it happened to me."

In a prepared statement, Tony Lidgate, of North Yorkshire Police, said: "Both Mr Hardy and the Chief Constable are pleased that this issue has finally been settled to the satisfaction of both parties and without the need for protracted litigation.

"North Yorkshire Police remains totally committed to a policy of equality and fairness and are pleased that this matter has been amicably resolved." He said the force had no further comment.

Updated: 14:29 Tuesday, March 23, 2004