One-legged war veteran saves mother and baby from thugs ... only to be arrested for carrying a truncheon

A one-legged Royal Navy veteran was arrested after he rescued his neighbour from being harassed by two men.

Stephen Beerling, 52, dialled 999 and raced to help the women and her baby after hearing screams during the night.

But he was arrested when officers spotted a retractable truncheon he had picked up in case he had to protect himself.

Mr Beerling, a Liberal Democrat councillor, was arrested, locked up for 12 hours and charged with possessing an offensive weapon.

He told of his ordeal yesterday after learning the Crown Prosecution Service had decided to drop the charge against him.

Mr Beerling, of Maidstone, Kent, said: ' I am relieved, but very disappointed it even came to this. I don't blame the police but maybe they should have used their noggin. Perhaps they were a little inexperienced. The blame lies with the CPS  -  I just cannot understand why they wanted to press charges.'

Mr Beerling said the drama began at 2.30am on March 19 when he was woken by screams from his next door neighbour and her baby, and the sound of men shouting.

He called police and strapped on the false leg he has worn since his leg was amputated in March 2004 while he was still serving with the Royal Navy.

Aware he was probably outnumbered, he picked up the telescopic truncheon and put it in his back pocket. Mr Beerling then hurried downstairs and went outside where he said his neighbour was being harassed by two men.

He tried to calm the men down while he waited for police. Officers later arrested both suspects and charged them with affray.

But then they also arrested him when they saw the truncheon. Mr Beerling was taken to Maidstone police station, kept in a cell overnight and charged.

His case was due at crown court this week but on Wednesday the CPS decided to drop the charge.

The former sailor said: 'When they tried to open the truncheon, it was all rusted up. I've had it for years and it's just been in a drawer.

'It could be classed as an offensive weapon if it was taken out in public and used with intent. I hadn't even taken it out of my pocket.

'But I wouldn't think twice about stepping in to help people again. I could not have stood by and let it go.

'The most important thing for right-thinking people is to stand up to criminals who blight our society.'

Kent Police and Senior Crown Prosecutor Janet Garnon-Williams said in a statement: 'A decision has been taken jointly to discontinue the case as there is not a realistic prospect of conviction.'

A police spokesman said the two men arrested with Mr Beerling were charged with affray, but the cases were later dropped.

One was charged with possession of cannabis and fined £100 by Maidstone magistrates.