Teesside security guards wrongly arrested

Jun 13 2010 Sunday Sun

TWO pals working as security guards were nicked, charged and forced to appear at court after cops thought they were impersonating police officers.

Peter Tough launched an eight-month legal battle to clear his name after he was arrested as he patrolled a Teesside shopping centre.

And officers claimed he was wearing Armed Response gear in a bid to dupe unsuspecting members of the public.

But the 62-year-old angina sufferer was not carrying a weapon and was clothed in a bright fluorescent jacket with the words “RESPONSE” on the back.

Peter, from Cleveland Avenue, in Chester-le-Street, County Durham, and his colleague Alfredo Romero, 42, from Honeysuckle Avenue, in South Shields, were bundled into the back of a police van and accused of posing as a Sergeant and an Inspector.

And they spent 12 hours in a police cell before eventually being charged with impersonating a police officer.

During a two-day hearing at Teesside Magistrates’ Court, they were cleared of any wrong-doing and walked free.

But following his arrest, Peter now suffers from bouts of depression and anxiety and has had to standby and watch the breakdown of his marriage.

Last night he claimed he was made to feel like a terrorist and said he was launching legal action in a bid for compensation.

He said: “I’ve been to hell and back. This is the most nerve-wracking thing that I’ve been through. I am constantly concerned that a passing policeman will arrest me.