Thaindian News

London, July 10 (ANI): A British woman who refused to return a 3.99 pound cricket ball to kids was locked up by cops for five hours.

Lorretta Cole decided to take a stand after the ball damaged her mother-in-law’s car and was found in the garden seven times in 30 minute, in a quiet cul-de-sac house, in North Baddesley, near Southampton, Hants.

The 47-year-old was fingerprinted, photographed and had a DNA sample taken from her mouth before being slammed in a cell by the cops.

Now she is waiting to see if she will be charged with theft - an offence that could see her handed a community order, fine or even jail sentence of up to 18 weeks.

“It is an outrage. I was just trying to show these kids they need to be a bit more careful with their cricket ball and I’ve been treated like a criminal,” the Sun quoted her as saying.

“My mother-in-law’s car had its wing mirror damaged while it was outside the front of the house and I was worried they would cause more damage.

“To think that so much taxpayers’ money has been spent on arresting someone like me is ridiculous.

“I thought the police force were supposed to be tightening their belts, not wasting money,” she added.

Sgt Steve Wildridge, of Hampshire police, said Mrs Cole was given several opportunities to return the ball.

“If this had happened no further action would have been taken. However, she left the officers attending with no alternative choice but to take action,” he said. (ANI)