Bikers Perform Citizen's Arrest On Man Caught Pickpocketing Veteran Selling Poppies

Bikers performed a citizen's arrest on a man after they caught him trying to pickpocket a war veteran selling poppies.

The pensioner was collecting donations for the Poppy Appeal in Stafford town centre when the bikers spotted a thief trying to pinch his wallet on Saturday.

The pickpocket - who has since been identified as 43-year-old Steven Norman - was then placed in a headlock by one of the bikers while another, Martin Burrows, posted a live stream of the incident on Facebook Live.

The video was recorded by former RAF serviceman Mr Burrows of the Oxleather Motorcycle Club.

The 54-year-old lorry driver said: "The victim is well known in the area and within the Poppy Appeal. He dishes out the boxes of poppies to the shops in Staffordshire. He's a Irishman very, very funny, very good sense of humour. He dresses the same with a big bearskin hat on.

"He was being watched in the Swan Hotel up the road by Norman. Somebody noticed what was going on and evicted Norman from the Swan. Norman followed the victim up the high street towards us because that's where he was coming. All of a sudden we hear a shout from a girl shouting, 'stop, thief'.

"He turned and ran in the wrong direction, straight into the Oxleather Motorcycle Club which probably wasn't the cleverest escape plan."

SWNS

He continued: "As shown in the video, they grabbed hold of him. I originally went up to him and gave him some home truths about what he's done and reflect on it.

"He started accusing the lads of assault because apparently, this man is very good at the thieving stuff, but when it comes down to somebody standing up to him, he cries assault so that he becomes the victim.

"I took the video to protect the lads really. I wanted to make it aware that if there are any more veterans within Staffordshire that might need help ringing the police."

Norman, of no fixed address, was charged with theft, which he admitted after appearing at the town's magistrates' court on Monday.

SWNS

He was fined £80 and ordered to pay a £32 victim surcharge and £135 in court costs. A Staffordshire Police spokesman said: "We'd like to update our local community regarding an incident that took place in Stafford Town Centre, whereby an attempted theft was witnessed by members of the public who intervened.

"Steven Norman, 43, was charged with attempted theft and remanded in police custody. He appeared at magistrates court on Monday morning.

"We're grateful to all who assisted with the investigation."

Topics: uk news, crime

Jake Massey

Jake Massey is a journalist at LADbible. He graduated from Newcastle University, where he learnt a bit about media and a lot about living without heating. After spending a few years in Australia and New Zealand, Jake secured a role at an obscure radio station in Norwich, inadvertently becoming a real-life Alan Partridge in the process. From there, Jake became a reporter at the Eastern Daily Press. Jake enjoys playing football, listening to music and writing about himself in the third person.

@jakesmassey