UPDATED: Ex-soldier taken to court over 'citizen's arrest' of yobs -your comments
A CRAWLEY ex-soldier has been dragged through the courts just for trying to defend his family from a gang of baying yobs.
Frank McCourt, 58, from Bennett Lane, Langley Green has told the Observer how teenage thugs pelted his home with stones and made threats against him.
But when he tried to make a citizen's arrest HE was charged with assault and ordered to appear in court.
He was due to appear to face Mid Sussex magistrates on Friday, but the case was dropped after prosecutors finally admitted they didn't think Mr McCourt would be convicted of any crime.
The Observer understands that the justice farce only ended when MP Laura Moffatt contacted the Home Secretary and senior coppers.
Mr McCourt, who served in Somalia and Northern Ireland during 12 years with the armed forces, blasted cops who arrested him.
He said: "I feel very angry about the whole thing. I was the wrong guy to get arrested in the first place. The police have really let me down. I would like an apology for what has happened at the very least."
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Weather for Crawley
Sunday 27 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 25 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: East
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Sunny spells
Temperature: 12 C to 25 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
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