A fish and chip restaurant owner faces a legal bill of about £100,000 after losing a court case against Sussex Police.

Demetrios Photiou, 38, accused the police of violently arresting him six years ago following a fight in a kebab restaurant in Eastbourne.

He claimed he was repeatedly hit with batons, had his arm twisted painfully behind his back and was attacked by a police dog which bit his leg.

Mr Photiou, who runs the Trident fish and chip restaurant in Albert Parade, Eastbourne, claimed compensation from Sussex Police for unlawful arrest, false imprisonment and assault.

The police denied his allegations and said he was lawfully arrested using reasonable and necessary force.

After a 12-day hearing at Brighton County Court, a jury yesterday found in favour of the police.

Mr Photiou will have to pay the police's costs, estimated at about £40,000, plus his own legal fees.

After the hearing, Mr Photiou said: "I am still glad I brought the case. I would do it all over again. It was worth it. I had to do this. I was just trying to get justice."

His solicitor, Sotira Georgiou, said: "If the police had investigated the matter fully on July 5, 1998, we would not be here today and they would have discovered the true cause of complaint."

Brian Welfare, Sussex Police's civil claims manager, said: "I am very pleased the officers' actions have been vindicated. I think it was right we defended the allegations made against the force and the individuals concerned."

The court heard Mr Photiou, who has no criminal convictions, was arrested in July 1998 after trouble broke out at the Clay Oven kebab restaurant in Seaside, Eastbourne.

Mr Photiou had been punched in the face.

When police arrived he refused to give details about his identity because he said the gang that had attacked him was nearby.

The police said officers asked him for his details because a woman had complained Mr Photiou had assaulted her.

When he refused to co-operate there was a struggle and he was handcuffed and arrested.

The woman who complained of assault later withdrew the allegation.

The case against Mr Photiou collapsed on the first day of his trial at Lewes Crown Court in February 1999 and he was acquitted of charges of affray and assault.