In court: Man who defied the yobs
A COUNCILLOR has appeared in court charged with obstructing police after trying to disperse yobs who had been plaguing pensioners.
Allan Pritchard found himself on the wrong side of the law after he was called by a frightened pensioner to try to sort out a problem of a large gang of youths causing a disturbance in the street.
But when the situation turned nasty and police were called, the Plaid councillor, who is shadow deputy leader of Caerphilly council, and the pensioner were arrested and put into cells for the night.
The next day police cautioned the pensioner but charged Coun Pritchard with a criminal offence when he failed to accept the same fate.
At Caerphilly Magistrates’ Court yesterday, politicians and residents who had been plagued by the gang, turned out in force to support Coun Pritchard, who denies obstructing police.
Among supporters were Llanelli AM Helen Mary Jones, representing the Assembly’s Plaid Party, shadow leader of Caerphilly council Plaid councillor Lindsay Whittle, and fellow councillors Phillip Bevan and Judith Pritchard.
A trial failed to get under way because of delays with presenting CCTV footage of the incident, which took place on August 4 in Oakdale, to the defence.
Magistrates adjourned the case for a two-day hearing due to start on November 21 at Caerphilly Magistrates’ Court.
The case comes just days after Home Secretary Jack Straw called for more rights for the public to protect themselves against criminals and a relaxation of the law when force is used against criminals and those using anti-social behaviour.
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