A Croydon police officer has apologised for mocking a robbery victim who handed his cash to muggers.

Matthew Brabbs says an officer phoned him last Wednesday and apologised for laughing in his face when he tried to report the robbery on May 7.

The officer's superiors are thought to have urged him to apologise after the allegations were published in the Croydon Guardian.

Dozens of readers wrote angry letters to the paper demanding that action be taken against the officer and borough commander Mark Gore intervened.

The 20-year-old's complaint against the police has since been dropped.

Matthew said he received a phone call from a police officer identifying himself as the "pillock" who mocked him when he tried to report the robbery.

Matthew, from Caterham, told the Croydon Guardian: "He said it was a misunderstanding, that he thought it was a joke and he was having a laugh with me and my mates.

"He apologised and said he wanted to give me a crime reference number for the robbery.

"It was always my concern that the gang who robbed me could have done it to someone else.

"I'm glad I said something and that people have taken note of it so I don't see any need to take it further now."

The Croydon Guardian reported how officers had mocked Matthew for not standing up for himself' after he and two friends were mugged by a gang of youths in West Croydon on May 7.

He had wanted to report the crime and alert police to the fact the gang could be targeting others, but a male officer mockingly held out his hand and asked him for cash.

A Croydon police spokesman confirmed the officer in question had made contact with Matthew following intervention from senior police.

She added: "Following an internal investigation into the allegations made, an inspector from Croydon police station has been in contact with the family and the matter has now been resolved."