Bagpiping busker arrested
Police arrested a bagpipe playing busker because he was "distressing" shoppers.
Shaun Cartwright, 38, was told his piping had annoyed members of the public, reports the Daily Telegraph.
His bagpipes were seized as he was handcuffed and driven to a police station, although he was later released and told it was not in the public interest to press charges.
Mr Cartwright, who has been playing bagpipes for more than 25 years, was busking in Bridport, Dorset, when he was arrested.
He said: "I'd been playing for almost an hour outside Superdrug on the main street and had made about £50, so it clearly wasn't causing that much offence.
"But a shopkeeper called the police and two officers turned up saying they had a complaint and they had to respond to it.
"They asked me to move on but I wanted to finish my hour of playing and put the blow stick to my mouth and that was it."
Mr Cartwright, from Bristol, was released after an hour. He was told the case was not being taken any further when he answered his bail five days later.
He continued: "It was a waste of everybody's time. People are prejudice against the bagpipes. People may not like the sound of them but that doesn't give them the right to get the police to come along and hassle you."
Insp Alan Jenkins confirmed: "He was given strong words of advice because of the distress he had caused shopkeepers and passers-by."
-Nova
