Clara Fontoura claims six police cars and around 15 officers arrived at her home in Yeoman's Ride, Hemel Hempstead, because of a dispute with a bailiff.

The mother of four was made to stand outside but she says she was not dressed appropriately and when she tried to get back into her home there was a struggle.

Mrs Fontoura, 44, claims she ended up pinned on the floor with a fractured finger, where police prised her house keys from her hand, and badly bruised wrists from handcuffs.

The care assistant claims she was sprayed three times in the eyes with pepper spray, which has left her with blurred vision.

"I am a woman who works. I own my house. They way they treated me was like a criminal," she said.

"They sprayed my face three times with pepper spray.

"The way they were holding me was bad. I couldn't breath.

"I have all these bruises on my body."

Mrs Fontoura is now seeking legal advice about making a complaint against Herts Constabulary.

The incident began last Monday (September 22) when a bailiff arrived at her home demanding £500 for council tax arrears.

Mrs Fontoura's husband Carlos recently lost is job as a security guard and the couple have been struggling to pay their mortgage.

She invited the bailiff in but refused his request to take items from her home because she did not have the permission from her husband, who was out.

At this point the bailiff called the police and in the meantime Mrs Fontoura contacted Carlos, who told her to cooperate and allow the bailiff to remove items.

But according to Mrs Fontoura the police then arrived in force.

"The way they entered my back garden was like an army," she said.

"I was not wearing appropriate clothes to stay outside.
"I was ashamed to stand there in front of the police with what I was wearing.
"I went in the house. There were a lot of police on me.

"I was screaming. It was horrible the way they treated me."

Mrs Fontoura was arrested for assaulting a police officer in the struggle and she was taken to hospital for treatment to her injured wrist before spending eight hours in custody.

She claims having originally being told she would be charged and appear in court the next day, she was released on police bail at 10pm to return on October 9.

Because she could not see properly on the Tuesday she went to an optician and then Hemel Hempstead Hospital, where her eye was treated and her hand was X-rayed.

She was also referred to an eye specialist.

"All my family are very down," she said.

"It's been horrible for the whole family."

A Herts police spokeswoman said seven officers had attended the incident and four had been involved in the struggle with Mrs Fontoura.

"Police were called at around 1.20pm on Monday 22 September to an altercation on Yeoman's Ride, Hemel Hempstead," she said.

"A bailiff was at an address there and made the call to us.

"A 44-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of assault on a police officer.

"She has been police bailed while investigation continues."