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Former soldier arrested for kidnap after his citizen's arrest on yob who pelted his home with eggs
Last updated at 15:13pm on 25.06.08
Frank McCourt: He says he has been 'put through months of hell'
When Frank McCourt's home was targeted by young hooligans hurling rocks and eggs, he challenged them and told them to leave and never return.
But the next day they came back so Mr McCourt, a former soldier, tried to phone the police but was put on hold for 45 minutes.
At the end of his tether, he grabbed one of the louts by the arm and hauled him inside, telling him he was performing a citizen's arrest.
But it was Mr McCourt who was arrested later that day - for kidnap.
The 57-year-old spent six weeks on bail before being charged with the lesser offence of assault.
The case hung over him for two and a half months before it was dropped just days before the trial when prosecutors accepted there was no realistic prospect of convicting him.
Yesterday, Mr McCourt, a delivery driver who spent 12 years in the Army, said: 'It's utterly disgraceful that something like this can happen in this day and age.
'Gangs of hooligans who are barely out of short trousers can roam the streets unchecked, causing misery for entire neighbourhoods - and if you try and stand in their way, you end up in the dock.
'Those children have got away scot-free. They are the criminals of the future and they've been given the green light to carry on as they were, while I've been put through three months of hell.'
The trouble started on the evening of February 17 when Mr McCourt and his wife Maria heard a bang on the window of their £170,000 semi-detached home in Crawley, West Sussex.
Mr McCourt went outside to find two boys 'of about 11' throwing stones, mud and eggs at houses. He reprimanded them and told them not to come back.
Trouble: Mr McCourt's street in Crawley, West Sussex
But when he returned from work the next day, he found his wife in tears.
He said: 'She was absolutely terrified. She told me a gang of kids had been throwing things at the house all afternoon, and shouting all the names under the sun at her.'
When they came back later, Mr McCourt called the police on their anti-social behaviour hotline but couldn't get an answer despite holding for three-quarters of an hour.
He went out to look for a community support officer but couldn't find one.
At his wit's end, Mr McCourt grabbed one of the louts, led him into his house and demanded to know the boy's name, his mother's name and her phone number.
While he was trying to call the boy's mother, she turned up banging on the door, shouting and swearing.
He said: 'She said she didn't want me manhandling her son. I said if she'd brought him up properly, I wouldn't have to.'
Mr McCourt let the child go but minutes later police arrived and arrested him on suspicion of kidnapping.
He remained on bail until April 3, when officers told him they would issue a caution. But Mr McCourt refused to accept it, because doing so would be an admission of guilt.
He was charged with assault and a date was set for trial but the case was later dropped. His MP Laura Moffatt, who took up the matter with police, said: 'Thankfully, common sense won the day. This family has suffered a horrendous level of intimidation from anti-social youths.'
A Sussex police spokesman said: 'An allegation was made and officers duly investigated the facts reported to police. A file was presented to the Crown Prosecution Service in accordance with procedure.'
Reader views (26)
You are guilty until proven innocent. Kids get away with far too much nowadays. Bring back conscription and get some sense drilled into them.
- James, London
Well said,Albert Swift,Aberdeen.
Only last week I was slated for saying I'd not get myself involved. This soldier unfortunately did and look what happened. You can't reason with the morons of today.
I was quite right after all and stand by what I said and got criticised for!
- Steve, London
England doing what is does best! Making the victim the criminal.
- Joe A., Va. USA
Are the police scared of these little kids? Why do they keep letting them go and basically give them the go ahead to carry on and potentially commit worse crimes.
It seems people are not scared of the law and its no surprise considering they are pushing paper around all day.
They should start dishing out stronger punishments and hopefully (you never know) these idiots might think twice.
- Kristine, London, Camden
Quote
"'An allegation was made and officers duly investigated the facts reported to police"
So what happened to Mr McCourts police call for help?! Clearly, was wasn't important enough! Police likes to pick and deal with the things they want, pounding on silly allegations and letting these kids get away with it. We all know why, because the law protects them and the police can do nothing about it.
- Elly, London
So when Gordon Brown said last week that the law would come down firmly on the side of the victim, what he actually meant was, the police will arrest you instead. And the politicians wonder why nobody believes a word they say? Scrap the human rights act (which protects only those unworthy of protection), remove target based policing and give a bit of freedom for common sense back to the police and we might see some small change in this kind of ridiculous situation.
- Ag, The Village of London
What is needed is 'street justice'
- Simon Bucknell, enfield
Next time the police, who are very busy form-filling, urge you, a victim of crime, not to "take the law into your own hands" you may politely remind the police that the law is already in our hands because it is our law. If they would prefer to do paperwork than answer an emergency call then they will just have to accept vigilantism as the natural response to law-breaking. It is OUR law and we will just have to get along without the police, who are terribly busy these days what with targets and stuff.
- Neil, london uk, Airstrip ONE .
The police farce. They could have spoken to the "mother" and used their common sense. But no another tick in the box, target reached.
- Grim Reaper, Hell
Time to name and shame these kids and their stupid parents... why did the police not find out what the kids had done and let common sense decide the outcome.
- Rachro, London
Little wonder that the police are losing the public's trust and respect.
- John, Bedford
...And this is exactly what happens when you try to intervene and help, you get arrested. Better to walk on by and not get involved. Sorry but the next time I see trouble I'll just walk on. Dunkirk spirit or not I don't see why I should get nicked or beaten for someone else's problem.
- Albert Swift, Aberdeen, Scotland
This story highlight's how bad the children of today can get away scott free. I remember when you saw a copper on the beat, you would be frightened to death to even make eye contact. Nowadays they are just laughed at, and the poor citizens of this country are the scapegoats.
Why not bring back some deterrent i.e National Service etc...
We need to stand up in this Country and start to make ourselves heard, before we are overrun by these louts
- Phil Jordan, Maidstone Kent
That is why we have these badly brought up youngsters roaming the streets causing misery to law abiding people. The parents are as bad as these youngsters, if not worse, and our system of dealing with these yobs is a disgrace. Gone are the days when the local bobby or neighbour could clout you one for being disrespectful or causing a nuisance. Give back the power to the schools to deal firmly with these kids who have no role models in their homes to look up to.
- Kris, croydon
...and the Police wonder why no one respects them any more...?
- Emma, Staines, UK
Nu Labours Nu Society.
You can no longer rely on the Police, Judiciary and Political system in this country to keep you safe.
Are you a white tax payer? Then you are screwed under Labour.
- Frank, Home Counties, England.
It was only a few days ago that a police spokesman said that the public should be prepared to have a go at yobs. If this is their reaction when someone does, who in their right mind would do so. The police need to sort out their priorities - are they their to protect the law abiding public, or to protect the "human rights" of every yob who is upset by someone standing up for themselves.
- Warren Hertzberg, London
Like so much of this government they make changes without telling the populace. The most immediate need is a statement of what the citizens' rights are. ie when can one exercise a citizens arrest, what are the rules of self defence and so on. On the later while we have politicians saying one can use reasonable force to defend oneself how can this be squared with the following:- a friend, a middle aged woman is viciously mugged (and had to be hospitalised) by a person of anti-social tendencies. As she lay on the ground bleeding the police officer who attended her asked 'did you lash out at him?' If you did you could be charged with assault.
What are they taught at Hendon, pick on the easiest arrest?
- Jeremiah, London
I think it has now got to a stage in society that I would not hesitate for one moment to do exactly what he did. So what to the consequences. My family come before any Laws. Well Done to him.
- Jonny, London
Everyone knows of this kind of problem, but the powers that be ignore it. It is about time that justice was applied, and that its application was in the right direction.
And the police expect our respect and help! This case was rightfully thrown out of court, and it is about time that the police see that would be the case BEFORE charges are brought. Kidnapping? Ridiculous. In the past had I behaved like those kids, the householder would have belted me one, and I would not have dared tell my dad, lest he gave me further punishment.
And as a result of knowing that, I did not do this kind of thing.
- Naomi Sajeri, Manchester
The Police who arrested him ought to be arrested for wasting Police time! In such a crazy case, that ought to fit in rather nicely.
- Threaded, Roskilde, Denmark
Its no wonder the public no longer have any faith in the police. It would be nice to hear what the Chief Constable has to say rather than 'the spokesman'.
- Patrick Griffin, Dalston, London
When you join the Police force do you have to surrender your common-sense? If not then why was this man prosecuted? Ridiculous to just say "I am doing my job". They have managed to tell a group of obviously anti-social yobs that they can get away with whatever they want, sure that will help them on the straight and narrow.
- Mark, London
And what does this Sussex Police spokesman have to say about the forty five minutes wait, or the apparent continuous intimidatory anti-social behaviour?
Is this going to be the usual mealy-mouthed 'lessons will be learned' garbage these people are taught to trot out when faced with graphic evidence of their own incompetences?
You bet it is.
- Chuck Unsworth, London
...minutes later the police arrived to arrest him on kidnap charges! Where were they when he called them? As always it's easier for the police to arrest law abiding citizens than the thugs and louts that are causing mayhem on the streets.
- Oscar, London
"A Sussex police spokesman said: 'An allegation was made and officers duly investigated the facts reported to police."
This is the problem. The word of a child is always accepted as gospel.
- George, London
