Why was retired ballet dancer Roy Morton tasered by police?

Roy Morton was tasered by police because officers mistakenly raided his home, believing he was a younger, armed suspect, due to an incorrect address provided by a call handler.

What compensation did Roy Morton receive from Scotland Yard?

Scotland Yard paid nearly £50,000 to Roy Morton to settle a civil claim after the mistaken identity incident where he was tasered.

What are the long-term effects of the police incident on Roy Morton?

The incident left Roy Morton with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which has caused him to develop a stutter.

Home / Crime and Justice / Retired Dancer Tasered by Mistake: £50K Payout

Retired Dancer Tasered by Mistake: £50K Payout

26 Jan

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Summary

An 80-year-old retired ballet dancer was tasered by police.
Officers mistook him for a younger, armed suspect.
Scotland Yard paid £50,000 to settle the claim.

Retired Dancer Tasered by Mistake: £50K Payout

An 80-year-old retired ballet dancer has received a settlement of nearly £50,000 from Scotland Yard following a traumatic incident where officers mistakenly tasered him in his kitchen. The raid occurred on December 28, 2021, when armed police, responding to a call handler error that provided the wrong address, smashed into the home of Roy Morton. Mr. Morton, who has a pacemaker, was tasered and handcuffed, then arrested for affray, despite being wrongly identified as a 26-year-old suspect.

The incident led to Mr. Morton developing PTSD, which has left him with a stutter. Despite an internal investigation revealing the call handler missed opportunities to correct the address, the Metropolitan Police initially denied full liability, leading to litigation that was settled on January 22, 2026, just before a trial was scheduled. Mr. Morton, a former dancer with the English National Ballet and Opera, and actor in 'The Crown', expressed that the financial settlement was less important than the lack of a personal apology from the force.