Businessman who grabbed a thug for smashing a window is charged with assault
A businessman was stunned when he detained a yob for smashing a shop window only to be charged by police with assault.
Steve Kink apprehended a thug after catching him breaking into a mobile phone shop late at night.
Although the 47-year-old was punched in the face, he managed to pin the offender to the floor.
Passers-by called the police while he stood over him until officers arrested the 25-year-old man.
Mr Kink, who owns a tattoo parlour, was stunned when he found out the next day the suspect had been let off with a caution for criminal damage.
But his shock turned to fury when days later police officers turned up at his house to arrest him for assaulting the thug.
He was taken to his local police station and held in a cell for six hours before being interviewed.
He was then charged with assault and battery and is due to appear before magistrates next week.
Mr Kink said he is appalled at the way he is being treated. He said: 'I thought I was doing the right thing by making a bit of a citizen's arrest. All I did was use reasonable force to hold him down.
'The officers who turned up appeared grateful at first but now I am facing an assault charge.'
Mr Kink was sitting in his wife's town centre bar in Weymouth, Dorset, when he heard a security alarm go off.
He went outside and confronted two men stood near to the Phone Zone store which had a smashed window.
Mr Kink, who is registered disabled following a motorcycle accident 20 years ago, said he was met with a volley of abuse from the pair before being hit.
He said: '"I accused one of them of smashing the window and he said "'what the f*** has it got to do with you?"
'He then took a swing at me and punched me just under my left eye. I grabbed hold of him and managed to sweep one of his legs from under him and I held him there by putting the toe of my shoe on his shoulder blade.
'There were lots of other people around at this stage and somebody had hold of the other bloke he was with. When the police arrived I stepped back and he kicked off at them. When he was put in the police car he tried to kick in the windows.'
A few days later police turned up at Mr Kink's home. 'There were three police officers and a dog handler there. They told me I was being arrested for assault,' he said.
The owner of the Phone Zone store, who did not wish to be named, said he has been left out of pocket by the damage.
He said: 'I am very grateful for what Steve did and at the end of the day he has done the police's job for them.
'The damage to the window was £250 but I don't know how and when I am going to get that back.'
A spokesman for Dorset Police confirmed that Mr Kink had been charged with assault over the incident.
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