Police are to apologise to the family of a man shot dead in his bed during a bungled raid.

James Ashley, 39, of Western Road, St Leonards, was naked with his teenage girlfriend when armed Sussex Police officers burst into his flat and fired at him during the raid in January 1998.

Paul Whitehouse, who was chief constable at the time, was forced to retire early amid the resulting public furore.

A statement issued by the force yesterday said: "Sussex Police are able to confirm Press reports of a proposed private meeting between the Chief Constable, Ken Jones, and the parents and family of James Ashley.

"On Thursday, October 30, 2003 Ken Jones, Chief Constable of Sussex Police, will travel to Liverpool for a private meeting with the parents and family of James Ashley, who was fatally shot by a Sussex police officer on January 15, 1998.

"Ken Jones wishes to apologise to the family in person for James Ashley's death. He will be accompanied by Mark Dunn, who is chairman of the Sussex Police Authority."

Mr Ashley's family, including his brother Tony and sister Pauline, have pushed for an apology since the day Mr Ashley died.

Tony said: "They (Sussex Police) have done wrong. It is for them to apologise.

"We have been asking for an apology, virtually from day one. It has been a long time coming."

Mr Ashley, a convicted killer, had been the prime suspect over a stabbing in the town and was also under investigation in connection with cocaine trafficking between Hastings and Eastbourne.

Information that he was armed proved to be false and he was killed in front of girlfriend Caroline Courtland-Smith, who was 19 at the time of the raid.

PC Chris Sherwood, who fired the fatal shot, was cleared of murder and manslaughter after a judge ordered there was no evidence for a conviction in May 2001.

He always maintained he had fired believing Mr Ashley was coming at him with a gun.

The family received a second blow when they learnt two police officers involved in the planning of the raid on Mr Ashley's flat had been promoted.

Inspectors Kevin French and Christopher Siggs were both made chief inspectors in June 2001, despite the force receiving a barrage of criticism from the judge who presided over the trial.

Two inquiries by Kent and Hampshire Police revealed the raid had several flaws.