Drunk man arrested after mistaking police officer for a stripper

A man was arrested after mistaking a female police officer for a stripper while in a pub with friends (Picture: Alamy)

A man has been arrested after mistaking a female police officer for a stripper, dancing in front of her and whipping a bar towel in her face.
Mirroring a scene out of Only Fools and Horses, Paul Harbord thought it was his lucky day when a female officer walked into the Black Bull pub in Old Shotton, County Durham.

The 27-year-old, who had been enjoying an all-day drinking session with a large group, mistook the officer for a stripper when she came in to investigate ‘rowdy’ behaviour on December 29.

An Only Fools and Horses scene in which Del Boy mistakes a female police officer for a stripogram (Picture: BBC)

Harbord, who is a rigger, was told by one of his friends to expect ‘entertainment’ that evening, so when she entered the pub he shouted ‘look, here is one of the strippers,’ a court heard.
Chairman of the bench David Carr described it as an ‘unfortunate affair’.

The Black Bull pub where things got a little heated after the female police officer walked in (Picture: Google Maps)

Vicky Wilson, prosecuting at Peterlee magistrates court, said: ‘He was part of a large group dressed up. At 9.30pm a female police officer arrived at the pub, following concerns that the group was rowdy.
‘Harbord shouted “look, here is one of the strippers” as he flicked a bar towel in the officers face.’
Harbord, of Peterlee, Country Durham, admitted to obstructing a police officer and was given a six-month conditional discharge. He was ordered to pay £85 and a £15 victim surcharge.