Criminal Conviction.

You might remember, last month, I shared the story of my being arrested with you. If not, you can read it here.

You might note that I might have been rather flippant about the whole affair. Laughing it off as just one of those things that sometimes happens to us. Well, I can assure you now, there is nothing laugh worthy happening right now. Last week, I had to answer bail for the incident, I had just started my new job and it was scheduled for the afternoon and I couldn't make it till almost 18.30. I was re-bailed again for today, the day of love.

I wasn't that worried, I was expecting that I would be re-bailed again for a later date and sometime between then, notification that the issue had been dropped. All that came crashing down this evening when I was informed I was being formally charged with Common Assault - Contrary to the Criminal Justice Act 1988, for those who wanted the specifics.

When I was first arrested I didn't take legal counsel, I didn't even feel it was necessary, I didn't want to waste anyone's time. Anyone else's that is. So when I got the charges and the bail conditions, I considered representing myself. I guess, I still wasn't taking it seriously, even then.

I have a keen interest in the law, especially criminal law, I enjoy the philosophy and theology  behind it and I figured, that I probably wouldn't have the chance to represent myself in court again and what a good way to make the best of what seemed a really silly situation. So, I get home, still optimistic that I was doing the right thing, secure in the knowledge that I didn't do anything wrong.

But as I began to research the charge, what it entailed, what it meant, how I would defend myself against it, I started to get upset. I was mad, I am mad! There are so many holes and inconsistencies in the entire process that were not followed, no option to respond to the charges. The Common Assault charge should have applied to all parties involved but only applies to myself and my friend Ali.

My charge had some bail conditions though, I have to attend an Alcohol intervention program at least once before the court date and I am not allowed within a license premises within the City Centre until my court date which take place on March 7th.

Now, and I hate to sound like some kind of soap boxer - but I want justice! I have sent some emails to some solicitors and preparing everything to defend myself in court. Legal aid is not always reliable, so I plan on being as heavily involved in my defense as possible. 

Getting Arrested - In Police Custody

I debated with myself whether to blog about this or not, it doesn't exactly paint me in the best light. But then I thought, this wouldn't be the first thing that I have done or that has happened to me which makes me look bad.

It was supposed to be a quiet Friday night in. Food, movies, chat and some wine. It started that way at least, my friend Ali came round and I cooked some bacon and muffins, chatted about what I had done the previous few days, gossiped about people we knew. Then we started drinking the wine....

I don't usually like to drink in the house, for me drinking needs music and dancing. As it goes, I am not a massive drinker, I just really like to go out. So when we had polished off nearly 2 bottles of wine, I just wanted to go out so badly! It didn't take much to convince Ali. Neither of us had much money or any money for that matter.

We got out, hit a couple of bars, seen of few of our friends, danced a little.....

My memory is a little bit hazy, I was obviously drunk. But there happened to be altercation with some guys from a straight club in the same area of of the Village. Before I knew it, the police were there and Ali was being arrested. Dempsey Ali's boyfriend then showed up, and Ali was freaking out. I was trying to calm him down when, advise him that the police were not just going to let him go, whilst I was saying this a police officer asked me to turn around and I was placed in handcuffs.

We didn't really do anything wrong apart from defend ourselves but regardless of that we were drunk in public. We were put into the back of a police van, which happened to have someone else already in there, a guy named Michael, who liked to sing. As the van set of to take us to the police station he was singing so loudly and Ali and I were in absolute hysterics. We even put in a request for Walking on Sunshine, which he sang without question, it is like our theme tune so Ali and I sang along.

Unfortunately, this was not the first time I have been arrested and I thought once we were booked in, we would be separated and put in out cells until we had sobered up, be interviewed and then released by mid day at the latest. It didn't really pan out that way though, I was interviewed at midday by a police constable, who was so nice to both of us. But we didn't get out until after 4pm. It was possibly the longest 12 hours of my life,  sitting in a cell, with no mental stimuli apart from the Detention code. Boring.

It was experience to say the least, when I got home, I was in desperate need for a shower and some food. I refused food at the station as there was no way I was eating a meal beside a toilet and every time they asked, morning and mid afternoon, I assumed we wouldn't be there much longer, I was obviously wrong.

Through out all of this, drinking, getting arrested stress.....I didn't smoke. Smoke free for 7 whole days.