Home
Portal
Gallery
Calendar
FAQ
Search
Register
Log inManhunt for TV licence offender
Manhunt for TV licence offender
by Admin on Tue Jun 03, 2008 6:17 pm
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
By Deborah McAleese
A prisoner at the centre of a high-profile manhunt after he escaped from police custody last week has revealed that the dramatic six-hour chase was over an unpaid TV licence.
Leon Chakravarti (21) said he panicked and fled from custody when he realised he did not have enough cash to pay the £182.60 fine — demands for which, he claims, had been sent to an old address.
The PSNI launched a search and made a public appeal for information about the Killyleagh man's whereabouts after he gave an arresting officer the slip on Thursday afternoon.
Chakravarti said he was accompanying a friend to a case at Downpatrick Courthouse when he was stopped by a police officer who told him a warrant for his arrest had been issued because he had not paid a fine for failing to have a TV licence.
"I didn't know what he was talking about. It was the first I knew about it. Apparently the demands for money had been sent to my old address in Newtownards but I had moved from there to Killyleagh," he said.
He was taken into custody and, on hearing he was to be transferred to Maghaberry Prison, begged police to let him try and get the money to pay the fine.
They agreed and drove him to his home in Killyleagh. He thought a friend might be able to lend him the money, but he was unavailable.
"I just freaked out, that's why I left my house. "It was stupid, but the officer kept telling me that if I didn't pay the fine right away I was going straight to Maghaberry. It was mad, so I ran.
"I went to one of my friend's houses. I couldn't believe everything that was happening. I handed myself in at about 10pm and was kept in police custody that night."
Mr Chakravarti paid the fine in full the following morning and thought he would be free to go. However, he was charged with escaping from lawful custody and could not be released on bail until he appeared before a special sitting of Downpatrick Magistrates Court on Friday night.
"They initially told me there was no court free until Monday and that I would have to go to Maghaberry for the weekend.
"I couldn't believe it. I phoned my dad to ask him if he could get me a good solicitor and then all of a sudden they were able to get me to court on Friday evening."
He said his job is now on the line, he has no money for rent or food until his next pay cheque and many people think he is a hardened criminal.
"My life is so messed up because of a stupid £180 fine that I knew nothing about. "The whole thing was so petty and stupid.
"The police should be out getting proper criminals, like those people out stealing, burgling houses, torturing elderly people. All I did was not pay a fine which I knew absolutely nothing about."
Chakravarti's father Nayon accused the officers involved in the case of over-reacting and said that he is concerned his son's reputation has been damaged.
A PSNI spokeswoman said: "We would urge anyone who has a complaint about police to report the matter to us or to the Police Ombudsman."
(Source)
By Deborah McAleese
A prisoner at the centre of a high-profile manhunt after he escaped from police custody last week has revealed that the dramatic six-hour chase was over an unpaid TV licence.
Leon Chakravarti (21) said he panicked and fled from custody when he realised he did not have enough cash to pay the £182.60 fine — demands for which, he claims, had been sent to an old address.
The PSNI launched a search and made a public appeal for information about the Killyleagh man's whereabouts after he gave an arresting officer the slip on Thursday afternoon.
Chakravarti said he was accompanying a friend to a case at Downpatrick Courthouse when he was stopped by a police officer who told him a warrant for his arrest had been issued because he had not paid a fine for failing to have a TV licence.
"I didn't know what he was talking about. It was the first I knew about it. Apparently the demands for money had been sent to my old address in Newtownards but I had moved from there to Killyleagh," he said.
He was taken into custody and, on hearing he was to be transferred to Maghaberry Prison, begged police to let him try and get the money to pay the fine.
They agreed and drove him to his home in Killyleagh. He thought a friend might be able to lend him the money, but he was unavailable.
"I just freaked out, that's why I left my house. "It was stupid, but the officer kept telling me that if I didn't pay the fine right away I was going straight to Maghaberry. It was mad, so I ran.
"I went to one of my friend's houses. I couldn't believe everything that was happening. I handed myself in at about 10pm and was kept in police custody that night."
Mr Chakravarti paid the fine in full the following morning and thought he would be free to go. However, he was charged with escaping from lawful custody and could not be released on bail until he appeared before a special sitting of Downpatrick Magistrates Court on Friday night.
"They initially told me there was no court free until Monday and that I would have to go to Maghaberry for the weekend.
"I couldn't believe it. I phoned my dad to ask him if he could get me a good solicitor and then all of a sudden they were able to get me to court on Friday evening."
He said his job is now on the line, he has no money for rent or food until his next pay cheque and many people think he is a hardened criminal.
"My life is so messed up because of a stupid £180 fine that I knew nothing about. "The whole thing was so petty and stupid.
"The police should be out getting proper criminals, like those people out stealing, burgling houses, torturing elderly people. All I did was not pay a fine which I knew absolutely nothing about."
Chakravarti's father Nayon accused the officers involved in the case of over-reacting and said that he is concerned his son's reputation has been damaged.
A PSNI spokeswoman said: "We would urge anyone who has a complaint about police to report the matter to us or to the Police Ombudsman."
(Source)
