A MAN was arrested after a scuffle at a South Tyneside takeaway – even though he wasn’t involved.
Douglas Bell left Milan’s in Ocean Road, South Shields, at 4.40am on November 18 last year when a group of people tried to go inside the shop.
When staff told the group the takeaway was closed, a man began to argue.
Police arrived and arrested Bell, who already had his food and was on his way home.
The 26-year-old pleaded not guilty to being drunk and disorderly at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court and was due to stand trial before prosecutors changed the charge to being drunk in a public place and Bell, of Lake Avenue, South Shields, pleaded guilty.
Claire Wright, prosecuting, said: “He was clearly drunk when police got there and was arrested. However, it seems there was no disorderly conduct.”
Christopher Brown, defending, said: “It would appear there was some difficulty with another group, who were told the shop was closing. It clearly wasn’t him because he had his pizza already, though he never got to eat it.”
Magistrates gave Bell an absolute discharge.