You couldn't make it up: it burgers belief

A man has spoken of his relief after a charge of criminal damage to two beef burgers was dropped by magistrates.

Stephen Morgan, of Loughor, Swansea, was first arrested for robbery after complaining about the late arrival of two burgers with a pizza order.

His solicitor said Mr Morgan faced 20 hours of police questioning which led to a charge of criminal damage and later claims of breach of the peace.

Security worker Mr Morgan, said: "I'm just glad sanity has prevailed."

His solicitor branded the episode "a waste of public money" after a brief hearing in court.

Series of Events

1. He ordered the beef burgers, worth £5, as part of a takeaway supper from a pizza outlet on 10 October.


2. When the order, from Pepino's Pizza parlour in nearby Gorseinon, arrived without the burgers, Mr Morgan complained.


3. He was told that the missing meal would be sent right over but when they failed to arrive he asked for a refund which he says the company agreed to.


4. However, the burgers arrived shortly after but Mr Morgan, who had already eaten, immediately rejected them.


5. Instead he insisted on £15 compensation for his trouble, which he was paid, and the burgers were discarded.


6. A four-man police team arrived several hours later and arrested him for robbery. He was then led from his home in handcuffs.
   

His solicitor, David Singh, said the case, which he said "must have cost a couple of thousand pounds at least" should never have come to court.

He said: "He was arrested by four policeman at home and then spent 20 hours in custody being questioned and giving statements.

"There was a brief hearing last week when the case was reviewed and that was re-reviewed at the weekend by lawyers before the case against him was dropped.

"It started off with him being arrested for robbery, from robbery he was charged with criminal damage then they tried to allege a breach of the peace, now it's zero.

Mr Singh said the company's compensation policy of giving the food for free meant the burgers by that time belonged to his client.

Mr Morgan said: "I have just started a security business training dogs for the police and the army out in Afghanistan.

"I have had a lot of backing and government contracts and if I had got a criminal record I would have lost my licence to operate.

"It's just a relief it is all over."

Nobody from Pepino's Pizza was available for comment.

But a spokesman for the company had previously told the South Wales Evening Post that customers who got the wrong food got their money back, and free food.

"We have a good reputation. Out of 2,000 people who eat here, 1,999 are happy," he added.

Vote blue, free Green!

Whatever your politics, this is rocky ground for civil liberties and even worse for the institution of Parliament.

Conservative immigration spokesman (and Welshman) Damian Green has been arrested and released on bail in connection with a series of leaks from the Home Office.

He was held on suspicion of "conspiring to commit misconduct in a public office," the Metropolitan Police said.

He was questioned by police but has not been charged and has been bailed until February. He denies any wrongdoing.

It is believed to be connected to the arrest of a man suspected of being a Home Office whistleblower.

Series of leaks

The BBC understands that a junior Home Office official was suspended from duty 10 days ago over a number of leaks and the matter was referred to police. He was arrested but not charged.
It follows a series of leaks, including:

• The November 2007 revelation that the home secretary knew the Security Industry Authority had granted licences to 5,000 illegal workers, but decided not to publicise it.
• The February 2008 news that an illegal immigrant had been employed as a cleaner in the House of Commons.
• A whips' list of potential Labour rebels in the vote on plans to increase the pre-charge terror detention limit to 42 days.
• A letter from the home secretary warning that a recession could lead to a rise in crime.
  

The BBC understands Tory leader David Cameron is angry about what has happened and stands by Mr Green.

Tragedy in Antigua

Going off tangent from politics, I couldn't help but notice that the police officer heading the inquiry into the murders of a British honeymoon couple in Antigua has quit. This will be of little or no comfort to both families during their time of grief. My second thought - after trying to get my head around what the families must be going through at the moment - was one of cynicism. I can't help thinking that the two resignations are a desperate attempt by the island to save its tourism industry. Let's hope that their replacements and assistance from the UK will bring about a speedy but just arrest.

It also sickens me to hear that their families have been hounded for their stories by the insensitive element of the media, when they should be left alone to come to terms with their sad and tragic loss. May they both rest in peace.

The island's minister of justice said Detective Chief Ron Scott had resigned for personal reasons. The Canadian officer had been appointed in February to head and reform the local force.

Mr Scott had been supervising the inquiry into the fatal shootings of Ben and Catherine Mullany, both 31 and from south Wales.

The couple from Pontardawe in the Swansea Valley, were shot in their hotel cottage on 28 July, the last day of their honeymoon, in what police think was a robbery which went wrong. Catherine Mullany, who was training to become a GP, was killed instantly after being shot in the head.

Her husband, a University of the West of England physiotherapy student, died a week later after being airlifted to hospital in Swansea in a critical condition.

Several people have been questioned in connection with their deaths.

Mr Scott is the second top officer to resign in a month - Michael O'Neil, the former deputy commissioner left earlier.

Justice Minister Colin Derrick said a replacement for Mr O'Neil had been identified and was due on the island shortly.