Man 'kicked off' at police after officers confiscated his mop

A man with a mop blew his top when police confiscated it after a report he was brandishing an offensive weapon, a court heard.
By Gareth Crickmer
Published 4th Dec 2019, 06:00 BST
South Tyneside Magistrates' CourtSouth Tyneside Magistrates' Court
South Tyneside Magistrates' Court

Simon Bryant, 31 of Kirklea Road, Houghton, claimed he was mopping the floor at a property in Townsend Road, Sunderland – and became aggressive when it was seized by police.

Magistrates in South Tyneside were told officers took Bryant to the back of the address to calm down but he “kicked off”.

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He was arrested and taken to a police station and charged with being drunk and disorderly on Monday, November 4.

Prosecutor Paul Anderson said: “Police were called. The defendant had some kind of metal pole that the police took from him.

“He was drunk and aggressive and had to be taken to the rear. He colloquially ‘kicked off’. He was not very happy about being arrested and was taken to a police station and in due course pleaded guilty.”

Charlie Carr, defending, said: “The pole we are referring to was a mop, he was mopping the floor as police arrived. It was a household implement, not a weapon.”

Bryant, who pleaded guilty to a charge of being drunk and disorderly, was given a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £21 victim surcharge.