A FORMER Dunfermline footballer is preparing to take legal action after he was handcuffed by police officers who had stopped his car.

Ben Richards-Everton, who spent two years at East End Park after signing in 2015, was pulled over by officers in Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, after the Range Rover he was driving was flagged up in relation to drugs and firearms offences.

The 28-year-old, who was born in Birmingham and currently plays for Bradford City, was leaving a shop when the incident, which was filmed by his girlfriend, occurred.

Following a search of the vehicle, no illegal items were recovered, and West Midlands Police now believe that its number plates have been cloned.

Although he was released with no further action to be taken, Richards-Everton was seen in the footage to question officers as to why he has being handcuffed, and why there was a taser present.

The centre back described the situation as “horrible” and accused officers of approaching him “quite aggressively” and treating him “like a criminal”.

Richards-Everton has been backed by his club, which said: “Bradford City is aware of an incident involving defender Ben Richards-Everton, which recently occurred in the West Midlands.

“The incident caused our player serious alarm and distress, and, having reviewed all of the evidence made available to us, we have instructed our specialist legal partners to take the matter further – on his behalf.

“As the situation is now being dealt with legally, the club will be making no further comment at this time.”

A statement from West Midlands Police said: "Officers on patrol in Sutton Coldfield spotted a car which flagged up with warning markers for drugs and firearms.

"The car parked up and officers approached the driver in Walmsley Road just after 6pm on June 24. The driver was detained while officers carried out a search of the car.

"Nothing was found in the car and it’s now thought that the number plates, which sparked the suspicion, are cloned.

"The man was advised of the reason for the search and he was released with no further action.

"Given the intelligence around potential firearms, one of the officers drew a taser. It was put away shortly after without being used."

After being released by Partick Thistle, Richards-Everton signed for Dunfermline five years ago, and was a regular in the team that won the League One title in his first season.

However, after injury curtailed his appearances in the Championship to just 10, he left in the summer of 2017 to sign for Accrington Stanley.

He joined Bradford last summer.