Man prosecuted for posting airsoft photos on facebook

[BALDYMONSTER]

Can you share where you're getting this background information from?

Can you share where you're getting this background information from?

Unfortunately not, although I can state it really could not be from a more reliable source.

 

[BALDYMONSTER]

To add, the individual that was detained and subsequently arrested and then charged with a breach of the peace, was detained for 13 hours and was denied medical care and attention throughout his detention.

 

[Rogerborg]

Wait, who was charged with a breach of the peace?  How many people are we talking about?

And I'm interested in the matters of public record, i.e. which local paper reported the armed response and helicopter arrest (I see that was confirmed by the chap's defence, good god), and where this was shared on social media.  There seems to be a peculiar paucity of information before the report of the acquittal.

I may be searching for information that's just not there, but it's just bizarre that one set of pictures out of thousands drew the wrath of ScotPlod and the Fiscal, and I'd very much like to avoid being their next victim.

 

[BALDYMONSTER]

 Christopher Turnbull was initially charged with breach of the peace.

The Falkirk Herald ran the story for three days.

Despite repeated pleas and valid arguments to drop the case the one PF that was the prosecuting counsel refused to do so.

I don’t think I am being “cloak and dagger”. I just do not want to jeopardise any future recourse for Mr Turnbull SHOULD he decide to seek recompense for the extensive stress, anxiety and damaging effect this has had on his personal life, mental health, relationship and attempt to start his own business again.

Please bear in mind that the Police were/are fully aware of the state of Mr Turmbulls mental health due to 7 years of historical sexual child abuse.

 

[BALDYMONSTER]

For heavens sake guys, is it really not that obvious???

The guy in question was me!!!!!

 

[Rogerborg]

Oops!  So much for my investigative skills - I should apply for a job as a detective with ScotPlod. :wacko:

Well, I'm glad that it worked out for you eventually, and I wish you the very best in rinsing them big style for this total farce of a case.

Do you have any idea why they picked on you in particular?  Anything distinctive about the pictures that they allege that you posted?  Any previous with the coppers in the case?  It's truly baffling, and it feels like any of us could be next.

 

[BALDYMONSTER]

I have a slight inkling, but absolutely nothing at all that even comes near justifying their actions and treatment of myself.

 

[BALDYMONSTER]

And believe me when I say it could be any of you next.

Three armed response vehicles, a police helicopter, my house searched and  30 items taken as “evidence”, including my laptop and iPhone amongst other personal items.

Held for 13 hours and denied any medical care an attention.

if it wasn’t for the desk sargeant being so decent the CID wanted me detained to appear in court the next day!

6 weeks to get my property back, iPhone no longer works, magazine from my HK416 is completely broken. Magazine from my WE HI-Capa is damaged and the laser on my HK416 has a broken tail switch.

My girlfriend had a nervous breakdown over this and it has seriously effected myself in many ways also.

To add, I am not one of these guys that has an attitude with the cops, the guys in the ground were just doing what they were told and acting on the intel they had been given. Which turned out to be complete and utter lies when presented in court.

As I said earlier, I actually felt sorry for the two cops that had to take the stand as they had not been told the truth and full facts at all and were made to look and feel more than a little stupid.

 

[djben9]

I’ve since changed my Twitter image but tbh hardly post many pics these days and if I do I try my hardest to make sure people know it’s Airsoft.... 

thsnks for the info 

 

[EDcase]

That's unbelievable.

Surely there must be some legal recourse for the mental stress and property damage!?!?!

I guess it would cost too much.

Maybe talk to a news outlet...?

I'm shocked and sickened how completely incompetent some of these authority personnel are.

 

[callumbagshaw]

Yet more inconsistencies in the policing of the laws in this country.

Sickening that something so petty is acted upon yet genuine hate speech or photos that do cause genuine offense or distress remain a daily feature of my Facebook feed. 

@BALDYMONSTER Hope everything works out for you mate, sorry to hear about this.

 

[BALDYMONSTER]

Thanks mate, the amount of stress and anxiety this has caused is nothing short of extraordinary.

Its really driven a wedge between my girlfriend and I as we have been through the worst few years of our lives since 2014 already.

She is only now getting a little better after her second nervous breakdown, entirely brought on by this utter nonsense.

My lawyer states  quite clearly that even in the case of someone that did not suffer “severe depression, anxiety and ptsd due to physical and sexual child abuse” would have substantial grounds to sue the Police for their actions.

The very real problem is that I am now very wary/scared of the Police as I know what they are capable of.

And if I was to sue them, surely this would just make them more focused on some sort of revenge?

Additiinally, I used to love the place I live in/at, but now it’s totally tainted. Feels like I’ve been burgled. They went through everything, confiscating all manner of inconsequential stuff.

But before they turned my house upside down, they took great care to disconnect my cctv and place it lense down on the table.......

Go figure.

 

[Rogerborg]

It's a pickle.  I'd be guided by your lawyers on this one, since the sheriff's comments about how he was minded to decide are unusual and very disheartening.  It almost sounds like he's inviting ScotPlod to try again, but to do a better job of fitting up their next victim.

Apologies for the scepticism earlier - the case sounded unbelievable, but I see it's all been confirmed.  Which makes it an obscene abuse of power.

For what's it's worth, I work with the police and know plenty of coppers who are decent people - given the opportunity to be so.  But would I call them?  If my life depended on it, and for pretty much no other reason.

 

[James1989]

I don't know if its worth it but UKAPU said they managed to influence airsoft related law when it came to new law changes. Maybe if they have any political influence they can stop what happened to you happening again to anyone? 

 

[Rogerborg]

Good call, certainly worth making sure that they're aware of the case.

Although this isn't down to a problem with airsoft law specifically, it sounds like some high-heid-yins in Police Scotchland and the Fiscal got together and demanded some "firearms" related convictions.

 

[djben9]

im sure they are aware and im sure it will be in a future magazines, its to big an issue to miss and affects our sport and social media

 

[BALDYMONSTER]

That’s the thing though isn’t it?

Basically the truth and facts where ignored and I was targeted and treated like a known terrorist for doing nothing different from thousands of others posting similar pics daily.

I used to liaise with the cops regularly for many years due to the industry I was in, most cops are decent guys. In fact I’ll bet all the ones with their feet on the ground that day following orders from a DCI and an inspector are decent guys as well. It’s just more than a little sad that they were not told the truth or anything like the facts.

I was cuffed and held at the busiest roundabout in the area for all to see, film and take pics of for half an hour at rush hour.

Thwn these amateur reporters/photographers posted their footage all over social media for it to be shared over and over.

What do you think that makes me look like to people? Rhetorical question obviously.

My lawyer is all for bringing them to task but I freely admit, I’m too bloody scared of the subsequent consequences should we win our case!

If I had the deposit to move house I would do so tomorrow, this place is totally tainted for me now.

I can’t help but think that since that got thrown out, what have they got planned next for me?

 

[Wo1f]

At the end of the day, only you know what’s best for you. But if it was me, I’d take it all the way. 

They’d be less likely to have another go at you (or another airsofter) if they lost thousands every time they had a go. At the end of the day, you haven’t don’t anything remotely wrong or illegal, so nothing will ever ‘stick’. 

I understand and the grief it’s caused which would put a lot of people off, but I’d want to teach them a lesson. Times are tough for police funding right now. They can’t afford to have another go once they’ve been made to look stupid and got sued for the privilege... but I am a spiteful bastard.. 

 

[Rogerborg]

I hope you're never in a position to have to make that choice, and that none of us are.  And while I hope OP is compensated for this flagrant fit-up, I wouldn't be convinced that taking a bite out of ScotPlod's budget would result in cut backs to Operation Hit the Soft Targets.  Coming after us is cheaper, easier and a lot safer than laying hands on actual criminals.

Out of interest, from what Facebook group did they allege that they'd scraped the images?

 

[BALDYMONSTER]

It wasn’t from a group, it was my own personal account.

That incidentally had all the privacy settings as right as possible, but the cops admitted that they had asked for  an “open source” request on my account.