TWO Gwent Police officers were cleared of any wrongdoing, after an Usk pensioner complained that "grossly disproportionate force" was used after he was pulled over for driving without a seatbelt.

Clive Whatley, 71, of Ash Street, Usk, was showered with glass after officers smashed one of his windows when he was pulled over by police in Cwmbran on September 9, 2009.

Mr Whatley said he admitted wearing a seatbelt while carrying out a manoeuvre as he drove out of the drive, as he did not think he had to and explained to the officer that he needed to get hoem to take his stroke medication.

Shortly after leaving the scene Mr Whatley said he was pulled over again just short of a Stinger device and two police officers hit his window and windscreen with batons shouting at him to get out of the car.

Mr Whatley pleaded guilty to not wearing a seatbelt and was found guilty of failing to stop for a police officer and having tinted windows that did not conform to legal requirements at a hearing in Caerphilly Magistrates' Court in August last year.

Two officers were removed from operational duties after Mr Whatley lodged a complaint and earlier this week they were found not guilty of breaching standards of professional behaviour after a three-day disciplinary hearing.

A Gwent Police spokeswoman said: "Gwent Police expects the highest professional standards of it's officers and staff at all times and following a hearing where evidence of the whole incident, not just the isolated CCTV footage, was heard and the panel concluded that the actions of the officers were justified and did not breach the standards of professional behaviour expected of police officers."