PLASTERER John Mann could not believe it when his early morning exercise routine was interrupted by armed police using a battering ram to break down his front door.

Mr Mann, 37, of Massey Road, who lives with his two sons aged ten and 14, was shocked and angry to find the police using force to enter his home at 6.45am on a Monday morning because of a driving offence.

He said: "I was using a mini gym in my bedroom with my music on and didn't hear anyone knock. The first thing I knew was when I heard this massive bang.

"I went downstairs and realised it was the police with a battering ram. They had guns at their side but they weren't drawn.

"I was mainly worried as my sons were asleep upstairs and I didn't want them to be scared."

He says one of the three officers went up the stairs with his taser gun drawn just as his elder son arrived on the landing.

Mr Mann said: "As soon as the officers realised I had children in the house they were fine and most of them left but my elder son in particular upset as he knew what was going on."

Mr Mann accepts that two months before the early morning visit he had received a court summons in relation to a charge of driving without insurance.

He said: "Hands up I was guilty. I needed to get to work so I risked it. But the letter I received said if I did not go to court I would be dealt with in my absence so I didn't go.

"I expected to get a letter or something telling me what had happened but as far as I am aware I did not receive anything.

"The amount of force that was used seems completely out of all proportion to the driving offence I committed."

The officers told Mr Mann they had a court warrant for his arrest and waited while a relative came to look after the boys.

Mr Mann then appeared before magistrates and was told he had to pay a £900 fine. He was released after agreeing to pay in instalments.

He said: "I came to Wiltshire from London as I wanted a safer and better life for me and my children. I didn't expect this to happen here.

"A lot of my neighbours saw what was going on and they probably think I am some kind of serious criminal."

Mr Mann said that when he was a teenager in London nearly 20 years ago he did get into trouble with police but had turned his life around and now had a full-time job and took his responsibilities as a father seriously.

He said: "I was also left with a £200 bill to repair the front door."

Mr Mann has now taken legal advice and is considering making an official complaint.

A Wiltshire police spokesman said: "Wiltshire Police executed a warrant at an address in Massey Road, Devizes on 1st July 2015 after a warrant was issued for the arrest of a 36-year-old man who had been summoned to North West Wiltshire Magistrates' Court in relation to driving offences and failed to attend.

"Prior to any warrant, a risk assessment will be carried out and the manner of execution will depend on the details of the assessment.

"As well as being armed, the firearms team are also equipped to gain entry to premises in order to arrest people.

"If the man concerned is not content with the way a member of Wiltshire Police spoke, behaved or conducted themselves, he is encouraged to tell us via our website and this information will be passed directly to the Wiltshire Police Professional Standards Department for assessment."