A police chief told last night how he stared down the barrel of a gun has his family was robbed.

James Scott had only just landed the post as Bexhill's new police inspector when he and his family were subjected to the terrifying ordeal.

An armed robber broke into their holiday villa in the idyllic Mount Irvine area of Tobago and aimed a pistol at their heads.

But the robbery, which came two days into the family's two week break, was just one part of an astonishing holiday which tested even the experienced cop to his limits.

He said: "In ten years police service something like this has never happened to me. I was supposed to be on holiday "But the police training kicks in immediately.

"I told myself 'Don't argue with him. Do whatever he wants'."

Having stepped on a painful sea urchin the day before, Insp Scott's bad luck continued as he found himself confronting the robber.

He continued: "He was in the hallway. I don't know how he got in. There are security grilles everywhere.

"Luckily for me I was only wearing swimming trunks. He couldn't steal anything from me. But he made me lead him all through the villa.

"He went around and took whatever he wanted. We haven't got anything back.

"He was playing with the safety catch on the gun and saying to me 'This is what black men do to white men'."

After surviving the ordeal, Insp Scott then spent the next few days giving statements to the Tobago police.

Amazingly, almost exactly a week after the robbery, the cop was then forced to identify his assailant as he lay dead on a mortuary slab having been shot dead by Tobago officers during another robbery.

Insp Scott said: "I spent the next week working with the police.

"Then were told that he had been shot dead by the police after firing 11 shots at them.

"I had to go to the mortuary and identify him.

"I gather he had done three or four other raids. He wasn't from Tobago but from Trinidad.

"He had only just been released from prison after serving nine years for armed robbery."

"He fired 11 shots at them. They shot back and killed him so under their law it is dealt with by a Superintendent and he is totally satisfied with his officers' conduct."

Insp Scott is now back behind his desk and getting to grips with the job.

He said: "I worked in Bexhill for three years as a Sergeant and then had a year back in Hastings and have now returned here as Inspector.

"I am very pleased. I like the town. I live in Bexhill and I like working in the town and I look forward to working with everyone here again."

But he adds: "When I got back here people kept saying 'Had a good holiday?"

What is the worst holiday you have ever had? Tell us at theargus.co.uk/news