Man cleared of causing criminal damage to £5 beefburger supper

Published 22nd Oct 2009

As far as criminal trials go, it was never going to be a whopper.

But businessman Stephen Morgan thought he was mince meat when he was hauled to court to be accused of criminal damage - against a beefburger.

The 31-year-old had already experienced the indignity of being arrested by four policemen and led away in handcuffs after an argument with a take away delivery driver.

And after being grilled by the officers at his home he was forced to spend 22 hours in custody before charges were brought.

Mr Morgan's order for food for himself, his partner and their two children had arrived at their home near Swansea in South Wales, minus two burgers.

He complained and was told by staff at Pepino's Pizza parlour in the nearby town of Gorseinon that the missing items would be delivered immediately.

But when they failed to arrive, he contacted the take away again to ask for a refund - which he says they agreed to provide.

Moments later however, the beefburgers were delivered. But Mr Morgan, who by then had already eaten, demanded £15 compensation instead.

This was paid, and the beefburgers were discarded.

But several hours later a four-man police team arrived, arrested him on suspicion of robbery and took him to the cells.

His partner Michelle Owen, 30, explained: 'The next morning he was still in custody and we went to the police station to give statements.

'They eventually released him at 7pm that night - it was ridiculous.'

But a brief hearing at Swansea magistrates court yesterday heard the case against security consultant Mr Morgan has now been dropped.

Speaking after the court appearance, which would have cost several thousand pounds, Mr Morgan said: 'I'm just glad sanity has prevailed - it was all a bit silly really.

'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.'

His solicitor David Singh branded the whole episode 'a waste of public money' after a five-minute hearing at Swansea Magistrates' Court.

He said: 'Quite simply this case should never have come to court. It was a waste of public money.

'My client 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.

'The whole process must have cost a couple of thousand pounds at least, for beefburgers which cost £5.'

Nobody from Pepino's Pizza was available for comment yesterday.

But Sinan Boyraz, who runs the takeaway, earlier said customers who receive the wrong order get their money back, plus free food.

Source: ' Daily Mail '

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