IT was a day when gun-shots rang out in a normally quiet and peaceful Gwent town - when people ran for cover in fear of their lives.

Gemalettin Ortancil bro-ught chaos to the streets of Newbridge when he carried out his bungled bank robbery on the HSBC in High Street shortly before 10am on October 26, 2000.

The 19-year-old, of Turkish descent and from Tooting, London, thought he could pull off the heist after reading in a national newspaper of lack of policing in the South Wales valleys.

Ortancil terrified staff and customers at the bank before escaping with £9,000 worth of bank- notes stuffed into a bag.

He was then confronted minutes later by Gwent Police's armed response unit, and the town's streets were cordoned off.

Ortancil was trapped and was eventually shot in the shoulder by Police Constable Andrew Hurley after pointing his gun at the police.

Yesterday the former officer's landmark legal battle with Gwent Police ended when Judge Crispin Masterman threw out his claim for £250,000, which he was claiming over the after-effects of the shooting.

Mr Hurley, pictured above, left, alleged a failure on the part of his superior officers to implement a post-incident procedure and provide support for him.

He claimed the force failed to assume responsibility for his psychological well-being in the aftermath of the robbery.

The court heard how Mr Hurley became upset about the way he was treated after the shooting.

He was:

* Separated from his armed response unit colleagues. * Asked to give a blood sample and a swab from his face. * His clothes were removed for forensic evidence and he feared he would have to wear a white paper suit normally worn by suspects.

Mr Hurley claimed he was prevented from telephoning his wife and going to the toilet.

Mr Hurley alleged he suffered depression as a result of this treatment, and it was on this basis that he lodged a claim for compensation.

But the procedures were all part of the investigation process into the shooting by the South Wales Police force, and Judge Crispin Masterman said they were followed "to protect the integrity of the investigation".

He added Mr Hurley showed a high standard of professionalism and bravery, for which he was later commended.

The judge added Chief Inspector Joy Lott, the post-incident manager, "offered the opportunity of counselling but Mr Hurley said he found it did more harm than good".

Judge Masterman concluded: "The Gwent force has lost a good officer who performed his duty in an exemplary way... but I am driven to find insufficient evidence to establish a breach of duty and I must dismiss the case."

Mr Hurley, who resigned from the force five months after the shooting, told the Argus he was "very disappointed' with the outcome of the case, but said he had no plans to appeal.

"I just wanted to bring to everyone's attention the details of the incident that day.

"This is the end of two years of worry for me and my family, and I want to draw a line under it now, move on and rebuild my life.

"But I am not the same person I was before this happened."

In a statement through their solicitor, Jeremy Wolfe, Gwent Police said: "Serving police officers, those who have left the service and their families have been placed under tremendous pressure and have remained professional and supportive throughout this time.

"We will carefully consider the judge's findings and use them as a valuable learning experience.

"When this process has been completed, Gwent Police will be in a position to provide detailed comment."

He told the Argus that "a rough estimate" of the cost of the case would be between £20,000 and £30,000.

Police Federation spokesman Jeff Mapp added: "Mr Hurley was not treated as he had been trained to expect and there was a failure to properly implement a post-incident procedure and provide support.

"The the case has raised important issues for Gwent Police and the federation, who should now work together to ensure that post- incident procedures are in place for their officers.

"We are currently considering our own position in relation to any appeal."

* Former police constable Alan Edwards retired from Gwent Police after attending the Newbridge robbery shooting because of psychological illness.

The court heard he is also suing the chief constable for negligence following the incident.