A MAN has appeared in court following a citizen’s arrest in Ford Street, Wellington. It follows an incident on Saturday (July 30) evening when 19-year-old Joe Coppin, who lives locally, was following a car being driven down the street erratically.

Joe, who was accompanied in his vehicle by his brother Tom, 17, said: “He grazed the bank and nearly crashed into an oncoming car. He was driving all over the road. I got in front of him and he pulled up. I took his keys and called the police.”

The driver, 28-year-old Ashley Mark Trigg, of no fixed abode, appeared at Taunton Deane Magistrates on Monday charged with six offences, including drink-driving, no insurance, driving under the influence of drugs and while disqualified. He pleaded guilty and was sent to prison for a total of five months.

n A citizen’s arrest is made by a person who is not acting as a sworn law-enforcement official. In common law jurisdictions, the practice dates back to medieval England and the English common law, in which sheriffs encouraged ordinary citizens to help apprehend law breakers.