A dad-of-three says he was left shaken and in tears after being pulled over by armed police following what he claims was a malicious 999 call.

Daniel Pearce says officers with guns dragged him from his car and handcuffed him after he was stopped on the A28 near Ashford.

Police say they were investigating reports a man had been threatened with a baton in Canterbury half-an-hour before.

But after taking Mr Pearce’s details and searching the car, the 42-year-old from Faversham was told he was free to go.

He has since demanded an apology from the force for being subjected to an ordeal he claims was “unnecessary and totally wrong”.

“It frightened the life out of me,” he said.

“After they let me go I walked back to my car and got in and I can remember trying to put my foot on the clutch but my leg was shaking so badly.

“I drove to my cousin's house in Ashford and I went in and I just broke down.”

The incident was sparked by an earlier confrontation between Mr Pearce and another man unknown to him in Holm Oak Close, Canterbury.

Mr Pearce said he had been accused of fly-tipping by his friend’s neighbour as he went to drop some fishing equipment at her house.

The dad-of-three claims he denied dumping any waste and returned to his car and drove away as the verbal exchange became heated.

Thirty minutes later he was pulled over by four police cars as he travelled along the A28 towards Ashford. It later emerged officers had been investigating a report a man had been threatened with a metal baton.

Mr Pearce claims he was tailed by two marked patrol vehicles as he travelled out of Canterbury before they were joined by two unmarked cars carrying firearms officers.

“I asked why I was being stopped and they told me I was being detained,” he recalled.

“I said I’m not getting out until you tell me what I’m being detained for - I’ve done nothing wrong.

“I knew they were armed officers because they had guns and ran towards my car.”

“They made me feel really really paranoid to move. It literally frightened the life out of me...”

Mr Pearce says he was handcuffed and left feeling anxious as he was given orders by the officers, who police say did not draw their guns and only responded to the incident as the closest unit.

“Every time I stepped even a tiny bit back they would shout ‘stand still, don’t move’,” he said.

“They made me feel really really paranoid to move. It literally frightened the life out of me.

“It was unreal. I know it doesn’t matter as much but the embarrassment of it. Everyone was out of their cars watching and I felt like a criminal.

“I kept asking why I was being detained and they said they would explain at the end.”

Mr Pearce’s car was searched and no baton was found, and he was soon released without being arrested.

But he says the incident has had a lasting psychological impact on him.

“I never slept all that night or the following night,” he said.

“I’m not silly, I know they don’t just shoot people, but it just keeps going through my mind.

“I’ve done nothing at all wrong. I’m just a 27 stone, 6ft 2ins caring guy. You can ask anyone who knows me and they’ll tell you I’m a softie, a teddy bear.

“I just don’t feel like I deserved it. I was frightened, so frightened. I still am now. It was petrifying. I will never trust the police again, and I always did [before].

“It was just so unnecessary and totally wrong. I’m not interested in money, I just think I deserve an apology.”

Mr Pearce, who is a full-time carer for his fiancée and autistic son, claims he was told he should call 101 to find out the reason he was detained, but he says he has tried without success.

He has now submitted an official complaint to Kent Police about the incident, which saw him pulled over 31 minutes after the 999 call was made at 12.28pm.

A spokesman for the force said: “On the afternoon of Sunday, October 15, Kent Police was called to a report that a man had been threatened with a metal baton in Holm Oak Close, Canterbury.

“Later that afternoon, officers on patrol on the A28 near Ashford located and stopped a vehicle. The driver was detained and his details taken.

“Following further enquiries, the man was released without arrest.”

As a formal complaint has been made, the spokesman added it would be inappropriate to respond to Mr Pearce’s concerns until they have assessed his grievance and responded to him directly.