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Pub singer's 'racism' arrest over Kung Fu Fighting performance
A pub singer has been arrested on suspicion of racial harassment after singing King Fu Fighting in front of two Chinese people.
By John Bingham 9:18AM BST 27 Apr 2011
Simon Ledger says he fears he will end up with a criminal record for performing the 1974 disco classic at a seafront bar on the Isle of Wight on Sunday after two people walking past apparently took offense.
The 34-year-old, from the island, regularly features Carl Douglas’s 1974 number one hit in his set when he performs at the Driftwood Beach Bar in Sandown.
But after striking up the melody in front of customers at the weekend he noticed a man of Chinese origin walking past with his mother, making gestures at him and taking a picture on his mobile phone.
He said that he later received a telephone call from police - while he was dining in a Chinese restaurant - asking him to meet officers about the incident.
He was then arrested and questioned before being bailed.
Hampshire Police said that it had been following up a complaint of racially aggravated harassment.
“We were performing Kung Fu Fighting, as we do during all our sets,” Mr Ledger, 34, told The Sun.
“People of all races were loving it, Chinese people have never been offended before.”
A police spokesman said: “Police are investigating an allegation of racially-aggravated harassment. A man from Shanklin was arrested.”
A pub singer has been arrested on suspicion of racial harassment after singing King Fu Fighting in front of two Chinese people.
By John Bingham 9:18AM BST 27 Apr 2011
Simon Ledger says he fears he will end up with a criminal record for performing the 1974 disco classic at a seafront bar on the Isle of Wight on Sunday after two people walking past apparently took offense.
The 34-year-old, from the island, regularly features Carl Douglas’s 1974 number one hit in his set when he performs at the Driftwood Beach Bar in Sandown.
But after striking up the melody in front of customers at the weekend he noticed a man of Chinese origin walking past with his mother, making gestures at him and taking a picture on his mobile phone.
He said that he later received a telephone call from police - while he was dining in a Chinese restaurant - asking him to meet officers about the incident.
He was then arrested and questioned before being bailed.
Hampshire Police said that it had been following up a complaint of racially aggravated harassment.
“We were performing Kung Fu Fighting, as we do during all our sets,” Mr Ledger, 34, told The Sun.
“People of all races were loving it, Chinese people have never been offended before.”
A police spokesman said: “Police are investigating an allegation of racially-aggravated harassment. A man from Shanklin was arrested.”
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