Man dies 12 years after arrest left him paralysed

Julian, who shared his family's Christian faith, was described by his family as "vibrant, social and well-mannered"

A man who was left paralysed and brain-damaged after a scuffle with police and nightclub doormen 12 years ago has died, aged 31.

Julian Cole suffered a broken neck and a severe spinal injury after he was "taken to the ground" by police outside a nightclub in Bedford in May 2013.

Three Bedfordshire Police officers, who lied about the incident, were sacked in 2018 after being found guilty of misconduct.

Mr Cole, who was aged 19 at the time, had been living in a "minimally conscious state" and died on 7 March 2025, according to his family's lawyers Bindmans.

In 2024, his family agreed an out-of-court settlement of £1.2m with the police, in which the force did not accept liability.

No criminal charges have been brought over Mr Cole's injuries.

Julian Cole was an athlete and played for the Watford FC Academy before the arrest

Mr Cole was studying sport science at the University of Bedfordshire when he went to Elements nightclub with friends.

He was told to leave, but kept trying to get back in to the club, leading to staff calling the police.

He was "taken to the ground" by a bouncer and police, before being cuffed with "his face on ground", a police misconduct hearing was told.

PCs Nicholas Oates, Sanjeev Kalyan and Hannah Ross lifted him from the ground and took him to the police station, where they called an ambulance.

Paramedics arrived to discover Mr Cole was not breathing, and later discovered a broken vertebra at hospital.

The three officers claimed Mr Cole had been able to walk and get into the police van, but CCTV showed he had to be carried, with his legs dragging on the ground and head hanging down.

A High Court judge, while approving the out-of-court settlement, said: "The matter was compounded by a concerted attempt on behalf of the police officers involved to falsify their account of events."

Mr Cole needed 24-hour care after being injured outside the nightclub in 2013

The solicitors firm said Mr Cole was born in north-west London in 1993 and was a passionate Arsenal fan. He started his degree at the university in 2012.

He had been living in a care home since his injuries, and died at Northwick Park Hospital, near Harrow.

Bindmans said: "Julian's friends had visited him in hospital the day before he died, and his mother Claudia and brother Claudius were at his bedside.

"The family have now been notified by the North London Coroner that he has commenced an investigation into the causes of Julian's death."