JOURNALIST Donal MacIntyre has criticised Kent Police for its "inexplicable behaviour" during his legal battle with them following a BBC undercover investigation at a care home.

The BBC reporter spoke out after he triumphed in his court fight with the force over his making of a programme about abuse at the care home in Gillingham.

He received an unreserved apology from police for their criticism of the hard-hitting programme on Brompton Care Home in Pleasant Row and the force is now expected to pay a six-figure sum in damages and costs.

Mr MacIntyre told the Medway Today newspaper he and the BBC were now "satisfied that the record had been put straight". But he added: "We are distressed that it has taken so long for the police to hold their hands up. This is not a fight that we wanted but we are pleased that everyone involved in the making of the programme has been vindicated.

"When a reporter puts his head above the parapet he expects to get a lot of abuse. But the behaviour of the police in this matter has been inexplicable.

"The real damage they have done is to the learning disabilities community. The message they sent out when they said it was a waste of time looking into the behaviour at the care home was all wrong. I hope they intend to apologise to the community for the harm they have caused."

In a statement after the hearing Deputy Chief Constable Robert Ayling confirmed that Kent Police had apologised and accepted that the programme served the public interest.

He added: "We hope that our statements read out in open court will make amends for any damage caused to Mr MacIntyre's reputation.

Mr MacIntyre had sued after the edition from his 1999 series MacIntyre Undercover was criticised by police as "misleading".

Kent Police confirmed that in the out-of-court settlement it agreed to pay £15,000 damages, which Mr MacIntyre is giving to charity. But it also has to pay the total court costs, which are expected to push the final count to a six-figure sum.

The BBC's director of television, Jana Bennett, said: "The outcome of this action vindicates Donal MacIntyre, the programme team, and the BBC's journalism in exposing serious abuses at this care home. When the police refused to withdraw their remarks we had no option but to support this action."