- Former soldier Mark Worsfold arrested for his ‘manner, state of dress and proximity to the course’ as cyclists came through Leatherhead
- He was detained and questioned for five hours
A father with Parkinson’s disease was arrested as he watched the Olympic cycling road race because he ‘failed to smile or look like he was enjoying himself’.
Mark Worsfold, a martial arts trainer and former soldier, claims that he was thrown to the floor and handcuffed just as cyclists passed by.
His worried wife Nicola only found out he was being held after she reported him missing when he did not turn up for their daughter’s ninth birthday party.
The 54-year-old had his fingerprints, DNA and mugshot taken before being questioned about why he did not appear to be enjoying the event on July 28.
Police said Mr Worsfold, who was held for over five hours, was arrested because of ‘his manner, his state of dress and his proximity to the course’.
A spokesman added that the arrest was necessary to avoid a breach of the peace because he was standing near a group of protesters.
But Mr Worsfold, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2010, said that one of the symptoms of the disease is muscle rigidity, which can cause his face to become expressionless and mask-like.
Mr Worsfold, who had stopped to watch the men’s road race in Leatherhead, Surrey, after holding a Taekwondo demonstration nearby, said officers told him he was being arrested and taken to Reigate police station because he was not smiling.
‘I was sitting minding my own business,’ he told a local newspaper. ‘Before I knew anything the police grabbed me off this seven-foot wall, threw me to the floor and cuffed me so all I saw of the cycle race was between the feet of people from the pavement.
‘It could have been done better. I was arrested for not smiling. I have Parkinson’s.’
Mr Worsfold, who lives in an £800,000 three-bedroom house in the picturesque village of Ockham near Woking, has since asked for a letter of exoneration from police.
Surrey Police said he was initially arrested on suspicion of a public order offence but was ‘given words of advice’ before being ‘released with no further action’.
A spokesman added that he was found to be in possession of a legal folding knife and several rubber knives which had been used for his Taekwondo demonstration.
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Jesus H Christopher! “You vill enchoy beink oppresst or ve vill FORCE you to enchoy it!” And I once believed that the police were not State sponsored thugs! My eyes have been duly opened. Fuckin disgraceful behaviour! (Mind you, they could have killed him from behind, for all the punishment that’s likely to be meted out to them…)
Yet more reasons to despise the charade. oops I mean I do love the Olympics I watch it all the time please don’t arrest me.
So much for the police not being to act until a crime has been committed. Seems it’s different right now for some reason. A total disgrace.
Fifteen years ago 3 aquaintances and i were arrested and placed in cells for 5 hours, due to us being sat on a wall awaiting prince charles’ visit to an art centre in my home town.
Before P. Charles arrived we were removed by force on account of us being ‘known to police as peacefull protestors’….
Twelve years ago we finally won an apology and compensation for ‘unlawful imprisonment’….
That said, i saw no compensation, legal aid kept it, but as a whole at least we proved, we were unlawfully imprisoned.
This kind of brutish police behaviour doesnt suprise me, the fact pigs will soon be privatised, scares the fuck outta me, they believe they are the law even now…..
They are not the law but foot soldiers that are to ‘uphold it’.
Meant to add…..
But they do not, are quite literally thugs in uniform and never give a damn shit about innocent until proven guilty.
In their eyes, if you aint another copper? You are scum.
If you oppose thesystem in any way? You are beat-upable scum.
I despise coppers with a passion, they are paid bullies and love being in their position.
Over the top? For Sure!! But…why was he carry a knife and four rubber knives? Ok so they are used for his martial arts instruction but why take them to spectate at the Cycle race?
For an ex soldier and martial arts expert to be hit by a deterioration disease, these are probably the only means of self defence this guy feels he has.
They were not found till after the fact and were not a reason of arrest…..
This guy has a right to protect himself esp of late and the growing hatred of disabled as a whole it makes good sense to me.
Is this for real??
ah i see he did not smile so was arrested ,pray tell me do we smile all the time i think not so would the police be outside ant bookies shop and arrest the people coming out for not smilling we would have the cells full whot utter codwallops and should give the man a big bonus as of it jeff3 well emmas getting one?
Trumped up charges… http://youtu.be/BO8EpfyCG2Y
So we are meant to wear cheesy grins of enjoyment even if one has problems in the smile department. God those watching the international paint drying events live.
awful, awful, awful
Notice how the daily hate has to get the price of the house into the article…How anyone could buy that rag i will never know
Yep, i noted that too. Its the, throw in info so the masses attack the guy for that and not attack the brutality that arrested him.
I hate all media reporting and refuse to believe what i am told unless its non judgemental and strict fact.