Michael Barrymore is suing police who arrested him for allegedly murdering Stuart Lubbock

Arresting people on speculation is certainly reprehensible and allowing it to become public is more so. This guy was not even charged, let alone taken to trial

Michael Barrymore is suing police who arrested him for allegedly murdering a man who died in his swimming pool at a party in 2001 because it 'damaged his career'.

The former TV star was arrested following the death of Stuart Lubbock after he was found floating in a pool at Barrymore's then home in Roydon, Essex.

According to forensic reports father-of-two Mr Lubbock, 31, was violently sexually assaulted before he died.

He had met Barrymore at a nightclub in Harlow, Essex, earlier that evening before going back to his house for an all-night party.

Barrymore, 63, fled the scene after the death, later claiming he had panicked and wasn't trying to hide.

The former Strike It Lucky host refused to answer any questions about the tragedy at an inquest, after taking legal advice.

The inquest heard traces of cocaine, ecstasy and alcohol were in the victim's body.

Barrymore - whose real name is Michael Parker - was one of four men arrested on suspicion of serious sexual assault and murder in 2008 following a review of the police investigation, but all were later released without charge.

He is now seeking damages for the harm to his reputation and money-spinning career which collapsed.

In 2002 ITV failed to renew the entertainer's £2million a year contract. He moved to New Zealand, filed for bankruptcy after a £1million-plus tax demand and later tried to resurrect his career in Britain by appearing in Celebrity Big Brother in 2006.

Since then he has largely disappeared from TV, turning up only a few times on obscure shows, before featuring in a one-hour long Jeremy Kyle Show special on ITV in June 2014 when he insisted he had been 'clean' of alcohol and drugs for three years.

He was working in a garden centre and doing odd-job building work near his home in Essex.

Essex Police said: 'As civil proceedings are currently ongoing it would be inappropriate for Essex Police to comment.'

Original report here

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