A SUSPECTED drug dealer from Wirral was “maliciously” left to freeze in his cell by police, a police watchdog has concluded.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission have ruled the 27-year-old was forced to go without a blanket in his cell and was ignored despite headbutting a wall 45 times in a minute.

But other claims of mistreatment, including deliberately turning down the heating and making comments about the detainee, were not substantiated.

The incident followed an arrest in Wallasey on May 27 last year when a suspected drug dealer was taken to the Revenue and Customs (HMRC) custody suite at Manchester Airport.

An IPCC investigation found that a police officer refused to give the detainee a blanket, despite believing he was suffering from drug withdrawal symptoms.

CCTV evidence revealed the officer told an HMRC colleague they should let him “freeze”.

Police claimed the comment was light-hearted, but the IPCC ruled it was “inappropriate” and not allowing him a blanket was “malicious”. Naseem Malik, IPCC Commissioner for the North West, said: “Serious concerns were expressed by HMRC staff about the treatment of this detainee and it was important that a wholly independent investigation was conducted.

“Unfortunately, the detainee has not cooperated with the investigation and, as a result, the investigation was reliant on witness accounts from HMRC officers, Merseyside Police officers and CCTV footage.

“As a result, the Merseyside Police officers involved have been advised about their future conduct.”

Merseyside Police has acknowledged the IPCC findings.

A spokesman said: “In line with the recommendations made in the IPCC report, Merseyside Police can confirm that written managerial advice has been given to the officers involved in this investigation.

“The Force recognises the responsibility of care towards detained persons and has emphasised to all staff the need to ensure those standards are maintained.”