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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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UK: Arrest At Pot Protest
Worthing Herald
Tuesday 17 Jun 2003 A PROTESTER was arrested during a pro-cannabis demonstration after a police raid on a cannabis cafe, Worthing Magistrates heard. Paul Matthews, 24, of Chequers Drive, Horley, pleaded guilty to causing harassment, alarm or distress to a police officer. Nigel Creasy, prosecuting, said that the offence occurred during a protest outside the police custody centre in Durrington after a cannabis cafe in Worthing had been raided by police. He said that up to 80 people had gathered and were "generally unhappy." According to Mr Creasey, Matthews was abusive to police and blew a horn in the face of one officer. Creasy said that at one stage a demonstrator, Matthew's father, smoked cannabis in front of officers. He said that Matthews had intervened and told police officers that his father had a broken back and smoked cannabis for medicinal purposes. When police went to move another protester, Matthew's 16 year-old brother, the defendant again intervened and swore in the face of a police officer. Mr Creasy said that when police officers tried to arrest Matthews, he said: "You're not arresting me. I will struggle against you." Matthews' who represented himself, told the court that he had attended the demonstration with his father who has a broken back, and his younger brother. He said: "I was sticking up for my younger brother. It was something anybody would have done. They shouted and screamed at us, provoking us to shout and scream back. "I was told to shut up and move backwards otherwise they would arrest me and spray me with mace." He added: "We are all placid people." Matthews was given a conditional discharge for 12 months and ordered to pay costs of UKP 55.
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