Swann The Lock Up


Swann

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This programme contains some strong language

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# Shh, it's oh so quiet

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# Shh, shh #

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But not for long.

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Something menacing and sharp-toothed is on the way.

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Fucking hell.

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It's an industrial chop saw.

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And they're unaware of the trouble that comes with it.

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# Oh so peaceful until #

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What do you need the taser for?

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Why does he need his taser?

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# You blow a fuse #

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There's three there, I'm cuffed behind my back,

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There's one there, I don't know how many behind me.

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Why does he need his taser in his hand?

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Michael Lesley, arrested for nothing!

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Welcome to The Lock Up.

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On the banks of the Humber, Hull is

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one of the commercial and retail capitals of northern England.

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But where there's money there's crime,

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and more than three-quarters of businesses

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are affected every year, costing each of them £30,000.

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Whatever the trouble it's Sergeant Peter Swann,

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and his team who pick up the pieces at Priory Road Custody Suite...

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SCREAMING

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Where we've been filming for a year.

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BLEEPING

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That's picking up that microphone I'm wearing.

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If you have an argument with anything that happens,

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That's with me, not anybody else.

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SCREAMING

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Fucking hell!

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Look at me I'm 5ft 10 and you can't put me down?

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He's got a taser? Oh, fuck me.

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The first customer of the night, accused of nicking

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that industrial saw from a business has got real attitude.

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Why does he need the taser?

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Because you've been violent and he's going to use it on you if you are in here.

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Hang on. Behave.

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When arrested, Michael Cox was so angry the police threatened to taser him with 50,000 volts.

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Listen to ya.

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Yes, I am listening to me and in a minute you will, but if you don't,

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I don't care, but here's what's happening.

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I'm authorising your detention here for burglary.

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ALL TALK AT ONCE

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I talk, you listen, I don't listen to you.

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What type of police state is this?

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Are we in Columbia?

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We'll go through those questions, you will then speak to a nurse...

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Question away.

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-But you don't make demands of us.

-Question away.

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-We assess your needs.

-Question away.

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-You're not important, you're nowt...

-Do you understand?

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Question away and I'll answer.

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Good stuff! Over to you.

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You can only take so much of people shouting and cursing at you and your staff.

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I'm not having people coming in here and laying the law down like that.

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But Mr Cox has more questions than answers.

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Is there any chance you can answer, why is that (BLEEP)

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still stood behind me with a fucking taser?

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Is there a need?

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Come on, mate...

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-There's no need is there?

-Turn this way. Come on.

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Two, four...

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He'll stand there until I tell him to go,

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and I haven't yet, that's why he's stood there.

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You're a (BLEEP) and all.

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Yeah, we all are.

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Just take your shoes off before you go in.

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I think he's claiming he'd found stolen property and wanted to return it to it's owners,

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via the police.

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Unfortunately our staff found him and assumed he had stolen it.

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Erm... I'm assuming that as well.

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I thnk he's bang to rights and is upset at himself for being so stupid.

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It's not something you'd be nipping and borrowing your neighbour, it's an industrial saw.

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It's not something the general public would have on them at two o'clock in the morning.

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Some (BLEEP) a fucking taser, innit?

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I guess he doesn't want tea?

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LAUGHTER

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It's an attempted theft that's brought the next man in,

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but he too thinks he's done nothing wrong.

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All right then, mate.

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You didn't expect to be here tonight?

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No.

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OK, time of the arrest please?

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23:40.

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Steven Coopland surprised a thief trying to

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break into one of his company vans with a crowbar.

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The circumstances please?

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The gentleman disturbed a male breaking into his motor vehicle.

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Subsequently detained him and during that detention had some sort of fight with him,

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and allegedly assaulted him.

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And the offence?

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Section 18, wounding assault.

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What do you mean?

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Oh no! No! I'm a bit old for that now.

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Would you like anyone informing that you're here?

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Not as yet, see how long I'm going to be.

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I'll need to speak to my wife if I'm still here in the morning,

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Which I don't want to be.

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He may be smiling now but he's unaware of the trouble he's in.

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His actions have put the other man in hospital.

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He has got quite serious injuries.

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Which obviously he's got to be assessed by a doctor.

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There was a substantial amount of blood on the pavement.

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It's a serious assault.

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The indication from the paramedics is that he may have some fractures,

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and the guy was sat down with blood coming from an open wound to his head.

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-Have you tried to self-harm before?

-Pardon?

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-Have you tried to self-harm?

-No.

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Any mental health problems or depression?

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Only that I pay a lot of tax.

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That's the one.

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Yeah, that one does.

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Mr Coopland insists he was simply defending his property.

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Somebody was breaking in the van.

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It'd been broken into last night and the night before and he came back to do it again.

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He hit us a couple of times and I hit him back.

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But the question is, did he go too far?

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Caught somebody breaking into his van/car.

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Trying to protect his livlihood because he needs that to do his business.

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and he's overreacted, because this guy is in hospital.

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The point is, this guy's had a crowbar and he's gone to hit him,

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and he's defended himself.

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The pertinent point is you've said it, he's overreacted.

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We don't know at this time, though.

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No, we don't, which is why we're investigating him for GBH.

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I heard him, as I'd gone out.

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I confronted him and he swung round with this bar.

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He hit me on the hand but I took it off him and then brained him with it.

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This man might be a citizen's hero, he may be a nasty piece of work people fear.

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We have no means of knowing one way or the other,

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so he's in here for an offense, it'll be investigated and we might charge him, we might not.

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If charged with GBH, Mr Coopland could be sent down for a long time.

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Would you like something to eat?

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I've got lasagne, shepherd's pie or a vegetable chicken curry.

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No problem.

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It's dinner time at Priory Road.

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Sugar's in.

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Which gives Sergeant Swann a chance to wax lyrical on his pet subject.

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I have a retired racing greyhound and they're beautiful pets.

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And they're also badly abused sometimes, looking for good homes.

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So it's my attempt to bring to people's attention that they're big beasts

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that don't need a lot of exercise, they sleep most of the day.

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With a greyhound you get what you expect, a fast, gentle beast.

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You've just been on about ten minutes about greyhounds, haven't you?

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Yeah, but ten minutes of good value.

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Yeah, yeah.

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You're going to see a bright light.

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The man accused of stealing the industrial saw is still

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complaining about the abrupt end to his bike ride.

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Got six coppers there, why do you need on with a taser?

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Totally over the top.

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But he has calmed down enough to be processed.

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-Any languages?

-No.

-Any trades behind you?

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I'll check my underpants.

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CID are weighing up the evidence and there's more than they bargained for.

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That is huge.

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I don't know what I was expecting, but not that!

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He's found that, he alleges.

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And you're on a bike, you're riding on a bike.

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He was seen riding a bike carrying this and said he was taking it to his family,

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and then hand it in to the police station.

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However he was riding in the opposite way from the police station,

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so obviously we don't believe him.

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Well, they wouldn't, would they?

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But Michael Cox claims he was just being a good samaritan.

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I was just outside my mate's double glazing factory, so I thought I'd look after it till the morning.

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Asked my friend if it was 'owt to do with him, if not then obviously inform the police.

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Unfortunately, I was lifted on the way home with it.

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INAUDIBLE

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I've done 'nowt so I've got nothing to worry about.

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Waste of equipment, waste of resourses and a waste of my time.

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But, there you go.

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I'll be released without charge.

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But following a search of his house they have found this...

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And this...

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And this...

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so DC Bradley is convinced it's an open and shut case.

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That'll be straight out of some premises, that.

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There's CCTV footage from the scene.

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Can see two males here, acting as lookout outside the compound.

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And the man we've got in custody is wearing similar clothing,

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wearing white trousers, darker jacket on and some kind of baseball cap.

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And that's the clothing our man's wearing.

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And if that isn't enough there may also be forensic evidence.

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We've found out there's footwear marks that have been left at the scene.

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See if it's the same pair of trainers which have made that mark.

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So things aren't looking too good for Mr Cox.

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But he is still claiming the police have got it wrong.

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And when it comes to the law,

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he seems to know what he is talking about.

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I have no intention of depriving anybody.

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You need intention to permanently to deprive.

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And I had no intention of such a thing.

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So this might not be such an open and shut case after all.

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The next customer through the door isn't so coherent.

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He's talking but making no sense.

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TALKS INCOHERENTLY

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Settle down, settle down.

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Nicholas Robinson has been drinking all day.

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All coppers are bastards.

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Bastards, sit us down.

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Aston Villa, Aston Villa for life.

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I'll knock you out as well, you think your hard 'cos I'm cuffed? Fuck you.

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One in three detainees are under the influence of booze or drugs.

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Get off my fucking wrist...

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Get him to a cell.

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This one's so aggressive he can't be dealt with until he's sobered up.

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ALL TALK AT ONCE

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It's that initial getting him in the cell, making sure he's safe,

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for their benefit, really.

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It looks a bit oppressive but it's not, it's keeping so they're safe and don't injure themselves.

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Drink makes people behave like violent oafs on occasions.

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SHOUTING

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That's why we leave them as long as we can,

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because they're different people when they're sober.

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At one point he lashed out and slapped me across the face.

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He's then started throwing punches round and about in the pub.

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You all right?

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Good lad.

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He's got a major issue with alcohol, that's the thing.

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He's been drinking all day, hasn't he?

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Obviously not drunk enough!

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It looks like booze is also the cause of this young lad's problems.

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He is 17 and so out of it, he doesn't know where he is.

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-Offence please?

-Criminal damage.

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His parents called the police

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after he chucked a wheelbarrow into a neighbour's garden.

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He is one of a quarter of a million youngsters

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who find themselves in the UK's lock-ups every year.

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Drink that and calm down.

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By the time we got there, he'd gone out of the back door. He was jumping over fences.

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We followed him over the fences and then we detained him.

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He was calm and then he started to get a bit agitated.

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He started to try and run away. He was kicking off and lashing out.

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We put straps on his upper body his knees and his ankles. to calm him down.

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It is his first time in custody. He is covered in scratches from the chase but so spaced out,

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he can barely sign his name.

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Sign on there, just your name.

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Sit yourself down, go on.

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So, just how drunk is he?

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A nice deep breath and blow. Come on, keep going. Keep going.

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All done. That's all we need. You've got a breath in there.

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And through your nose.

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The breathalyser reveals it's not drink that's to blame.

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-Right, what else have you taken?

-Why?

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-Why, because it is it important that I know.

-Stella.

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You have had more than Stella.

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They are worried he may be hiding something.

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He might not have slept for a week.

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He is now not under the influence of any drugs any more and just completely knackered.

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Not knowing the cause means the risks increase.

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So, he is placed on regular watch.

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Arrested for attacking a man trying to break into his van,

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Stephen Coupland has been in the cells overnight.

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He is now a little frustrated.

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They told me I would be out this morning but it hasn't materialised.

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They must be seeking more evidence or whatever.

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Dead right. The investigation is gathering pace.

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-Scenes of crime, Mike Ashford.

-Hull's answer to CSI is on the case.

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I have found what looks like blood on the wall.

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There could be traces of blood still in the crack where it has gone down

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but I have taken some swabs to gather some evidence.

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It maybe lost it maybe not.

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I have found two bits of plastic on the floor that could be off a piece of clothing. A buckle, I'm not sure.

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There is also a cigarette near the gates that will have to do DNA as well.

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The van is soaking wet so I have arranged for it to be recovered.

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If there are fingerprints on the lock where he's tried to get in,

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it will have to be dried out for a fingerprint exam.

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It has got quite bad damage to both front door handles.

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Aluminium chrome around the sliding door has been bent as well.

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Okey-doke.

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An officer said he would see to me within a couple of hours.

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I have got until the morning to get to the job and they won't understand what has happened.

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Coupland's interview will be crucial.

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But before it can happen, his solicitor needs to be fully briefed.

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DC Kirsta Wood is the investigating officer.

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I've prepared a disclosure documents for you to read through.

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I will answer any questions I can for you.

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How is the alleged victim?

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We have just received a telephone call from the sergeant to say he will be going into surgery

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but we don't know what the nature of that injury is.

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We believe it is to his ear and his hand.

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But we are still talking about wounding allegation?

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Yes. The nature of the injury suggests more of a wounding than an ABH.

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Offences of wounding are much more serious.

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One of the worst is GBH for which Mr Coupland could get life.

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If I hadn't have hit him, he would have been me.

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He has instigated the matter swinging at me with a bar.

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I'll have to wait for the outcome.

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I hope to get off with a caution.

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It would appear from what he has already said to officers at the time of his arrest

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that he is claiming self-defence and reasonable defence of his property.

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It is a matter for us to get that account from him

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and put that against what a reasonable person in the street

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would believe is reasonable force.

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See you in a few minutes.

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Mr Coupland, I'm Robin Smith, I am a solicitor.

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-I'm afraid that is as far as I can go in your presence.

-I understand. Thank you.

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It is a very serious offence. He could go to prison.

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It is very serious.

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The 17-year-old wheelbarrow thrower is starting to cause real concern.

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Wake up for me, mate. Wake up. Come on buddy, wake up for me.

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Sit up. Come on. Wake up.

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Wake up! Come on. What have you had?

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What have you had? What have you taken?

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With the lad so difficult to rouse, the nurse is called.

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Come on, stand up. Come on, stand up for me.

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Have you been on drugs or something? Come on, stand up.

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I have been in there and it is hard to rouse and wake up.

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Come on then buddy, this way. We don't know what he is taken.

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He hasn't had much alcohol in his system

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but he could have taken some type of drug.

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Will you sit down on this grey chair for me?

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The nurse wants to have a word with you.

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Right, what have you had?

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-I don't know.

-Well, you must know. What is making you like this then?

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-You.

-Pardon? Were you normally like this?

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-I don't know.

-Look at me, look at my finger.

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His general condition gives cause for concern.

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His pupils are unequal, his clinical observations are quite down

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at what they should be for a 17-year-old.

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He denies any drug use so I am going to send him to hospital

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with a view for them to reassess for head injury

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and any intoxicated substance he hasn't admitted to.

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We are going to send him to hospital for observation

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so if his blood pressure continues to go down

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then there comes a point where your body can't function

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and it's a critical incident in terms of health.

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Hopefully, they will detain him, so if that happens,

0:20:520:20:55

he is in the best place to be dealt with when it does.

0:20:550:20:59

-So, you are 14? Were you born in Hull?

-Yes.

0:21:060:21:11

-Have you been arrested before?

-Yes.

0:21:110:21:14

At 14, this lad's even younger than the wheelbarrow thrower,

0:21:140:21:19

so young he's brought his mum with him.

0:21:190:21:22

But it's not drink or drugs just messing about that's got him banged up.

0:21:220:21:30

-Time of arrest?

-09.20.

-And the circumstances?

0:21:300:21:34

Two separate incidents.

0:21:340:21:38

One, he was seen riding a mini moto near his home address causing harassment and distress

0:21:380:21:42

and then the second one is he was on top of a link up truss

0:21:420:21:49

on Channel Road on the roof, again causing distress to the people working there.

0:21:490:21:56

-That is the ground for my arrest, isn't it?

-Yes.

0:21:580:22:03

As well as riding his mini moto,

0:22:030:22:05

the lad's been seen shouting and swearing from a rooftop.

0:22:050:22:10

And with that sort of behaviour, like most juveniles with ASBOs,

0:22:100:22:14

he's broken the rules.

0:22:140:22:15

-Will I be out by 3:15?

-I would think so.

0:22:150:22:20

Just hang onto that because you need to wear it when you go into the cell, OK?

0:22:200:22:25

This young hoodie could be trouble in the making.

0:22:250:22:29

We have known Matt since the age of 10 or even before.

0:22:310:22:35

We have just had a long conversation with him in the car.

0:22:350:22:39

Hopefully, it does get through to some people

0:22:390:22:43

but others go the other way and lead the life of crime.

0:22:430:22:47

-How many times have you been in here now?

-I don't know, I don't count.

0:22:470:22:51

You would describe him in the area as a bloody nuisance really. But nothing more.

0:23:070:23:11

He is causing residents in the area quite a lot of annoyance so we stepped in to try and stop that.

0:23:110:23:18

By imposing an anti-social behaviour order

0:23:180:23:21

which means he can be arrested every time he steps out of line.

0:23:210:23:25

Do you want to stay for his photograph and all?

0:23:250:23:29

He's so comfortable at Priory Road he's happy for his mum to go outside for a fag.

0:23:290:23:34

He has been through the system before.

0:23:340:23:37

He was a cheeky chappie, it is just a case of he knows the system

0:23:370:23:42

-and he knows how it works. Here we go.

-Don't look at me.

0:23:420:23:47

He is just doing kids stuff really, which is still breaking the law

0:23:470:23:53

but he isn't what I call a bad, bad lad. Come on then, lad.

0:23:530:23:59

And that can be an issue with ASBOs, once you've got one,

0:23:590:24:02

you can be pulled in for relatively minor things,

0:24:020:24:07

all it takes is for someone to complain.

0:24:070:24:09

I got arrested a couple of weeks ago

0:24:120:24:15

because they thought I was smashing a sign outside the shop.

0:24:150:24:19

But someone in the shop said it wasn't me, it was just the kids saying it was me.

0:24:190:24:23

An ASBO can be a sledgehammer to crack a nut

0:24:230:24:25

where you have children engaged in activities

0:24:250:24:29

that children just engaging in.

0:24:290:24:31

We can criminalise a whole section of society in the years ahead.

0:24:310:24:35

The law is an effective tool if used properly

0:24:350:24:39

but I think we often use them incorrectly.

0:24:390:24:42

Most of my mates have said that they would rather be in prison than being on an ASBO.

0:24:420:24:48

You get locked up nearly every day for things you haven't done,

0:24:480:24:53

for really silly things like swearing at someone.

0:24:530:25:00

For now, he'll have to await his fate.

0:25:000:25:04

Steven Coupland has given his side of the story,

0:25:080:25:11

and been told the man he assaulted needed surgery.

0:25:110:25:16

He's finally beginning to understand the gravity of his situation.

0:25:180:25:23

This is a hard-working family man of impeccable character.

0:25:270:25:33

Although the previous three or two nights,

0:25:330:25:36

attempts have been made to steal his van.

0:25:360:25:39

This is the third consecutive night and on this occasion, he has called somebody red-handed.

0:25:390:25:44

You can only feel sorry for him. He gave a good account of himself in interview

0:25:440:25:48

and hopefully the police will come to the right decision.

0:25:480:25:52

They believe I've gone too far and I went further than self defence.

0:25:520:25:57

-Do you agree with that?

-No, I don't.

0:25:570:26:02

Because if I hadn't done that, he would've done the same to me.

0:26:020:26:06

And he is Matthew Higgins.

0:26:070:26:09

Matthew, I'm just going to book you in.

0:26:090:26:12

Just released from hospital and in big trouble for taking a crowbar

0:26:120:26:15

to Steven Coupland's van.

0:26:150:26:17

I had my back to him...trying to obviously break into his van.

0:26:190:26:24

And then he just hit me from behind.

0:26:240:26:27

If I'd have seen him running, I'd have run.

0:26:270:26:29

You know what I mean? I didn't even see him coming.

0:26:290:26:32

When I went down on my knees, he carried on beating me over the head with a steel bar.

0:26:320:26:37

I had my hand up to deflect it, and that's when he shattered my hand.

0:26:370:26:41

Yeah? He's also severed my ear. My ear was hanging on by that much.

0:26:410:26:46

But where does the truth lie?

0:26:470:26:50

With 36 convictions, including wounding and possession of a prohibited weapon,

0:26:500:26:55

Mr Higgins has a lot to lose.

0:26:550:26:58

When the police turned up on the scene, they found me sat on the floor with my head between my hands,

0:26:580:27:04

with my ear hanging off, yeah?

0:27:040:27:05

Blood gushing everywhere onto my head.

0:27:050:27:08

And my hand totally smashed in.

0:27:080:27:10

And black and blue from legs upwards.

0:27:100:27:13

Yeah? And this is the bloke that reckons that I attacked him.

0:27:130:27:17

He hasn't got a mark on his body. He's got a scratch that big...

0:27:170:27:21

you couldn't have even got from shaving.

0:27:210:27:24

Were you a bit of a handful when you came in last night?

0:27:330:27:36

It's amazing what a night in the cells can do.

0:27:380:27:41

The stroppy drunkard, Nicholas Robinson, is a new man.

0:27:410:27:45

I've been arrested three times this year and it's all alcohol related.

0:27:450:27:50

Um...I was definitely drinking yesterday. I was with my girlfriend

0:27:500:27:54

and that's pretty much all I can remember.

0:27:540:27:56

I know I must have been hit

0:27:560:27:58

cos all my ear's swollen and the side of my head.

0:27:580:28:01

If it was fighting, it looks like I lost the fight, to be honest,

0:28:010:28:05

the size of my ear and head, so I don't think I could've...

0:28:050:28:08

done anything really bad.

0:28:080:28:09

I get drunk, I don't get violent, I go to sleep.

0:28:090:28:12

The drink withdraws people's inhibitions

0:28:120:28:15

and, er, how you stop people doing that... If it wasn't the drink, it would probably be something else.

0:28:150:28:21

If you just blow into that, I'll hold it and tell you when to stop.

0:28:210:28:24

Keep going.

0:28:240:28:26

Lovely.

0:28:260:28:27

Lovely, thank you.

0:28:270:28:29

It's still going up.

0:28:300:28:31

-It says very drunk.

-Does it?

0:28:330:28:36

-It's 76...

-That's why I don't drive.

0:28:360:28:38

77, so you're still quite... under the influence, mate.

0:28:380:28:42

So I won't be able to interview you just yet.

0:28:420:28:45

What time did you get arrested, do you know?

0:28:450:28:47

I didn't know I had been arrested. I got woke up by that lovely copper this morning

0:28:470:28:52

-who wanted to give me a cuddle.

-That's it. She said you must have had a hell of a drink last night.

0:28:520:28:57

-Wicked.

-Yeah.

-You lose about 10 units an hour.

0:28:570:29:01

-Are you alcohol dependent?

-The legal limit to drive is 35.

0:29:010:29:04

You're at 77 and you've been in for 12 hours?

0:29:040:29:09

That means he was six times over the limit when he was arrested.

0:29:090:29:14

-Are you alcohol dependent? Do you drink every day?

-I do, yeah.

0:29:140:29:18

You do. How long have you been alcohol dependent?

0:29:180:29:20

Couple of years, two or three years.

0:29:200:29:23

Have you ever tried to have any help for that?

0:29:230:29:25

I'm registered with a company called Aquarius. I live in Birmingham, I'm only back cos it's my birthday.

0:29:250:29:30

-But...

-What do they do, try and wean you off it gradually?

0:29:300:29:34

A little bit. They give the worst advice ever. They're like,

0:29:340:29:37

"We wouldn't recommend you stop drinking yet because you'll have fits."

0:29:370:29:41

That's the worst thing you can do.

0:29:410:29:43

-I'll keep drinking then.

-Yeah, but alcohol's different to drugs.

0:29:430:29:47

Drugs, you can come off straightaway and you'll go through cold turkey.

0:29:470:29:50

But with alcohol, if you do that, your organs can shut down.

0:29:500:29:53

So they've got to wean you off it very gradual.

0:29:530:29:56

So he's fallen off the wagon again and he is still only 22.

0:29:560:30:00

But he's not your usual drunk.

0:30:000:30:03

I'm a successful young man.

0:30:030:30:05

I'm regional manager of my marketing company.

0:30:050:30:08

Alcohol doesn't affect me one bit.

0:30:080:30:10

In fact, sometimes when I'm drinking, I have my best ideas.

0:30:100:30:14

The only thing dragging me back is the alcohol, but it's not really dragging me far.

0:30:140:30:19

Is there anything else I need to be aware of?

0:30:190:30:21

Yes, I'd like an en suite in my cell, if that's possible.

0:30:210:30:24

You're unlucky, mate, cos the one with the Xbox has been spoken for.

0:30:240:30:28

-Oh, is it? You're joking!

-You were unlucky on that one.

0:30:280:30:32

Give me a signature on the pad, please.

0:30:320:30:34

Time for another cuppa,

0:30:400:30:43

and Sergeant Swann is still barking on about his pet subject.

0:30:430:30:47

So, "For Pete's sake, adopt a greyhound."

0:30:470:30:49

And back home we've got another dish that says, "For Rocky's sake, policemen need good homes."

0:30:490:30:55

CHUCKLES

0:30:550:30:56

"Retired policemen need good homes." That's the one, isn't it?

0:30:560:31:00

LAUGHS

0:31:000:31:02

The 17-year-old wheelbarrow thrower

0:31:040:31:07

who was near to collapse is back in the lock-up.

0:31:070:31:11

How are you feeling? Are you moving a bit better?

0:31:130:31:16

Have you spilt your beans, have you?

0:31:160:31:19

HE MUTTERS

0:31:190:31:20

Let's just move this along for you.

0:31:200:31:22

I tell you what, let's clean you up a bit.

0:31:220:31:25

The hospital discharged him because they decided

0:31:250:31:28

he was under the influence of drugs and needed time to sleep it off.

0:31:280:31:33

We're just a bit concerned for you cos generally after a while, drowsiness starts to, um...

0:31:340:31:40

fall off, doesn't it? But it's not falling off at the minute.

0:31:400:31:43

But the police aren't so sure.

0:31:430:31:46

He may have banged his head running away from the arresting officers.

0:31:460:31:50

Oh, dear.

0:31:540:31:55

Are you OK down there, fella?

0:31:580:32:00

There's a doctor with you, and I'm the police.

0:32:000:32:03

Do you understand?

0:32:030:32:05

'We have somebody who isn't getting any better

0:32:050:32:08

and we don't know why.

0:32:080:32:10

His consciousness is about zero.

0:32:100:32:12

And he's incapable of sitting up and supporting himself

0:32:120:32:17

and quite incapable of standing.

0:32:170:32:19

And he also has slight bruising behind his ear.

0:32:190:32:22

So there is a chance that it isn't actually any drug that's causing this.

0:32:220:32:27

He may possibly have head injuries.

0:32:270:32:30

So the doctor now is suggesting that they may do a CT scan

0:32:300:32:34

because you wouldn't expect somebody to still be under the influence of drugs.

0:32:340:32:39

Yes, the ambulance service, please.

0:32:390:32:42

I am, I'm calling from Priory Police Station, the custody suite.

0:32:420:32:46

With the possibility of a head injury, they're taking no risks.

0:32:460:32:51

Two hours after being discharged, he's going back to hospital.

0:32:510:32:56

We're not doctors, so this just isn't the right place

0:32:560:33:01

to have anybody where you're not certain what the symptoms are.

0:33:010:33:05

But this isn't a get-out-of-jail-free card,

0:33:050:33:09

he'll still have to answer for criminal damage,

0:33:090:33:12

but only once he's recovered.

0:33:120:33:14

The Crown Prosecution Service has decided Mr Coupland does have a case to answer for using excessive force.

0:33:220:33:28

The charges, Section 18, grievous bodily harm with intent,

0:33:280:33:33

unlawfully and viciously cause grievous bodily harm to Matthew Simeon Higgins

0:33:330:33:37

with intent to do him grievous bodily harm,

0:33:370:33:40

contrary to Section 18 of the Offences Against The Person Act, 1861.

0:33:400:33:44

Do you have any reply to that charge?

0:33:440:33:46

Not guilty.

0:33:460:33:48

But I didn't think I would be charged, actually.

0:33:500:33:52

I didn't, and you didn't really, did you?

0:33:520:33:55

All I can say to you is that it's entirely up to the CPS.

0:33:550:33:58

They're presented with the evidence and make a decision based on that.

0:33:580:34:01

It could have gone either way, really.

0:34:010:34:03

I think it came as a bit of a shock to him.

0:34:030:34:06

I'm sure he was expecting a bit of a slap on the wrist, a telling-off, if that.

0:34:060:34:11

GBH with intent, um...

0:34:110:34:13

one down from murder, really. The only element missing is that he didn't kill somebody.

0:34:130:34:17

I think it's a natural reaction. You see somebody breaking into your property and your belongings,

0:34:170:34:22

you're going to confront that person.

0:34:220:34:24

Cos nobody likes to be...have items taken away from them.

0:34:240:34:28

That's the rule of the jungle, isn't it?

0:34:280:34:30

If we allow that, somebody attacks your property, you do what you like.

0:34:300:34:34

You seek vengeance. That's vigilantism.

0:34:340:34:38

I'm hopeful I will win.

0:34:380:34:40

And that is it.

0:34:400:34:41

My peers will put us right, won't they?

0:34:410:34:44

-Your 12 good men...

-On the jury.

0:34:440:34:47

-Yeah.

-See you, bye.

0:34:470:34:49

When Nicholas Robinson eventually sobered up enough to be dealt with,

0:34:540:34:58

he was charged on two counts of common assault.

0:34:580:35:02

Would you like to make any reply to those charges? You don't have to.

0:35:020:35:05

He pleaded guilty and was given a 12-month conditional discharge.

0:35:050:35:09

Cheers, bye.

0:35:090:35:11

OK, Mark, I'm going to charge you with a breach of ASBO.

0:35:110:35:15

The 14-year-old boy admitted breaching his ASBO

0:35:150:35:19

and got a 12-month youth rehabilitation order.

0:35:190:35:22

Come on then. Your taxi's waiting.

0:35:220:35:26

I'd have to be a bit naive to say I don't expect to see him back again

0:35:260:35:29

because he's been through the custody system several times quite recently,

0:35:290:35:34

but you can't write a 14-year-old child off at this stage, can you?

0:35:340:35:39

Look at me, look at my finger.

0:35:410:35:43

-So what have you had?

-I dunno.

0:35:450:35:48

Well, you must know.

0:35:480:35:49

I dunno.

0:35:490:35:51

The police never got to the bottom of what was wrong with the wheelbarrow thrower.

0:35:510:35:56

But he did recover, admitted criminal damage,

0:35:560:35:59

and was dealt with by the Youth Justice Service.

0:35:590:36:02

Michael Lesley, arrested for nothing.

0:36:050:36:08

Mr Cox was right.

0:36:080:36:09

The evidence didn't stack up and he was set free.

0:36:090:36:13

I was never in any doubt that I'd be released without charge.

0:36:130:36:18

All this has done is cost me work because, as you saw, they took all my tools,

0:36:180:36:22

and no tools, no work.

0:36:220:36:24

But that's the police for you. They've a one-track mind.

0:36:240:36:28

If they're sure...you've done something, they'll get their teeth into you and won't let go.

0:36:280:36:34

The case against Mr Coupland was also dropped.

0:36:360:36:40

It's got extensive...well, quite bad damage to both front-door handles.

0:36:400:36:44

The man who'd tried to break into his van refused to give evidence.

0:36:440:36:49

Matthew Higgins was convicted of attempted theft and going equipped.

0:36:510:36:56

He got a three-month suspended prison sentence

0:36:560:36:59

and had to pay Mr Coupland £420 compensation.

0:36:590:37:02

It was the right outcome.

0:37:020:37:04

You should be able to protect your own, er...

0:37:040:37:07

gear what I've worked for.

0:37:070:37:09

What I was charged with, there was no way I...I...

0:37:090:37:12

went out intentionally to inflict the punishment that he got.

0:37:120:37:16

He started it, he was the one with the crowbar, and...

0:37:160:37:21

..he got what he deserved.

0:37:220:37:25

Sgt Swann's shift is over, but like all good coppers, he's never off duty.

0:37:290:37:34

Even the dog's worried.

0:37:340:37:36

When he misbehaves, I just like to show him the other side,

0:37:360:37:39

so he knows what's in store if he does it any more.

0:37:390:37:42

So you learn your lesson, dog. Yes.

0:37:420:37:45

Right, home time.

0:37:480:37:50

Next time, the Lock Up becomes a kindergarten.

0:37:540:37:57

-How old are you?

-15.

0:37:570:38:00

Every year, 2,000 kids are banged up in Humberside.

0:38:000:38:04

Right, a solicitor and lawyer is basically someone who'll come to the police station

0:38:040:38:08

and help you with the legal side of things,

0:38:080:38:11

all the law and stuff like that.

0:38:110:38:13

And many of the adult guests are just big children.

0:38:130:38:17

-Look at me! Look at me!

-Don't look like you were going to spit at me.

0:38:170:38:20

Look at this!

0:38:200:38:21

-Calm yourself down.

-What am I doing?

-Calm yourself down.

0:38:210:38:24

But the Lock Up is certainly no fit place for kids of any size.

0:38:240:38:30

BANGING

0:38:340:38:36

Answer the door!

0:38:370:38:40

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0:38:530:38:55

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