Michael Barrymore suing Essex police for arrest over Stuart Lubbock swimming pool death

The entertainer was arrested in 2007 but never charged

Stuart Lubbock met Barrymore at a nightclub (Getty)

Michael Barrymore is reportedly suing Essex Police for damages over his arrest after a man was found dead in a swimming pool at his former home.

Stuart Lubbock met Barrymore at a nightclub and attended a party at the entertainer’s mansion near Roydon, in March 2001.The 31-year-old’s body was later found floating in the pool.

A post-mortem revealed Mr Lubbock had taken cocaine and ecstasy and sustained severe anal injuries, suggesting he had been sexually assaulted. He died from drowning.

Barrymore was questioned by police and cautioned for drug offences and for allowing cannabis to be smoked in his home. An inquest into Mr Lubbock’s death recorded an open verdict in September 2002.

Barrymore and two other men were arrested on suspicion of sexual assault and murder in June 2007.

The Crown Prosecution Service announced that Barrymore, Justin Merritt and Jonathan Kenny would not be charged in connection with his death in September 2007. No-one has ever been charged.

Barrymore has always denied having any involvement in his death.

He moved to New Zealand with his then partner but returned to the UK in 2006 to appear on Celebrity Big Brother.

A spokesperson for Essex Police said: “As civil proceedings are currently on-going, it would be inappropriate for Essex police to comment."