Petition set up for student paralysed after arrest

A petition calling for justice for a black student left paralysed and brain-damaged following his arrest has received more than 126,000 signatures.

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 2013.

Three Bedfordshire Police officers were sacked for lying about what happened but no-one has faced criminal charges.

The force says there is no evidence officers are to blame for his injuries.

A spokesman for the CPS said two reviews concluded that “our legal test to proceed with prosecution was not met”.

Zayneb Benyoucef started the petition after watching George The Poet talk about the case on Newsnight.

“I was captivated by Julian’s story and was shocked there were no convictions,” the 19-year-old said.

“The petition is about justice and holding people accountable. A lot of people are touched by his story.

“It gives me hope that we can make a difference.”

The journalism student said she felt the Black Lives Matter movement had “shed light on people’s stories that have been hidden”.

“Julian can’t tell his story, so we need to do it for him,” she said.

Rapper Che Lingo has also called for justice for Mr Cole and his family. He worked with Mr Cole at a footwear store about 10 years ago.

In March the musician released his debut single on Idris Elba’s record label – a song called “My Block”, in which he raps about Mr Cole.

Che Lingo said he heard his friend was in hospital soon after the arrest.

“I thought he was in a car accident or been attacked,” he said. “I was thinking the worst – but it was worse than that.”