Man charged after PCSO had bike stolen by yobs playing cricket in coronavirus lockdown

A MAN has been charged after a cop had his bike stolen when he caught a group of yobs playing cricket during the coronavirus lockdown.

Video showed the men laughing and mocking the officer after he approached them to remind them of the government guidelines.

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Police confirmed today Hassan Ali, 23,  has now been charged with a section 4a public order offence and one count of taking a bicycle without consent.

He has been bailed to appear at Reading Magistrates’ Court on June 4.

The footage – filmed in Slough, Berks – shows one of the group taking the PCSO’s bike as his pals shout: “You just got robbed.”

Nearly all of the men choose to film the officer on their smartphones before ones asks him to “give a message to the cricket team”.

One of the men then tells him: “Go home! How are you going to get home, officer? Where’s your bike?

“WHERE’S YOUR BIKE?”

“Look how many cameras are around you right now.”

The officer replies: “I don’t care I’m doing the right thing here.”

Another man says: “Do you want a sticker?” Before his friend adds: “Leave him man, he’s about to cry.”

The officer then replied: “Guys, go home, seriously.”

They then appear to be moving away from the park as a member of the group said: “Alright man, you’ve said it about 10 times.”

A Thames Valley Police spokesman said previously: “The PCSO approached the males to explain the importance of them adhering to the current restrictions on public gatherings, which have been put in place by the government to save lives and stop the spread of coronavirus.

“The males, believed to have been aged between late teens and mid-twenties proceeded to argue with the officer, using intimidating and threatening language, and then took the officer’s bike.

“The officer called for backup which had been deployed, but the men made off from the scene leaving the PCSO’s bike behind.”

Superintendent Gavin Wong, Local Policing Commander for Slough, said: “The behaviour displayed against my officer will not be tolerated by Thames Valley Police and we are investigating this incident fully.

“I know the local community will be embarrassed by the actions of a small number of people because the vast majority of people understand what is required and have complied with the rules around coronavirus.

“I am grateful that the PCSO was not injured and he is being supported by the force. He showed professionalism and great constraint during the incident.”