A BLACK officer who was offended by a warrant card with an ape on it wants to "put matters behind" him and get on with his career.

Detective Sergeant Jimi Tele was distressed when the warrant card featuring a gorilla's head was placed on the notice board in front of his desk by colleagues while working at Lewisham homicide office.

He made an official complaint to the Metropolitan Police, claiming the incident was racially-motivated and was planning to take the force to an employment tribunal.

But his solicitor, Binder Bansel is still accusing the force of failing to address institutional racism, despite recommendations made in the Macpherson Report which followed the murder of black teenager Stephen Lawrence.

The 39-year-old also claims he was excluded from job opportunities while working at Lewisham homicide office.

Mr Bansel said: "He was systematically held back from courses which could have advanced his career."

He added: "Despite the events of recent years my client's case demonstrates the Met isn't sufficiently aware of the effect certain treatment can have on black officers.

"Such a stance can do little to encourage non-white officers to join the Met."

Mr Tele, who is currently based at East London's Specialist Crime Unit, said: "I was distressed by my treatment at Lewisham.

"However I hope that I can put these matters behind me and I aim to progress my career as a Met officer."

Scotland Yard apologised in writing to Mr Tele just days before the tribunal was due to start and acknowledged the distress caused to him.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman says the tribunal was settled without admitting liability, adding: "We expressed regret for any distress he may have suffered in relation to the warrant card incident.

"The letter acknowledged the incident was capable of causing offence for reasons relating to the claimant's race."

The police officer who made the warrant card was reprimanded for damaging police property.