WISBECH: Fish and chip “robbery victim” admits it was a lie
Marshland Arms landlord John Wood who was attacked with screwdriver outside Franks fish and chip shop in Wisbech
A pub landlord who received national publicity after claiming to have fought off four attackers in Wisbech single-handedly while hanging onto his fish and chips has been outed as a fraud.
John Wood (37), who runs the Marshland Arms in Marshland St James, admitted to officers yesterday (Tuesday) that he had lied about being robbed and was issued with an £80 ticket for wasting police time.
He had reported to have been attacked outside Frank’s Fish & Chips, in Lynn Road, Wisbech, on February 7. He claimed four men had attacked him, hitting him over the head and stabbing him with a sharpened screwdriver after he refused to hand over his wallet.
Officers began to investigate the allegations but soon realised his version of events did not add up.
Mr Wood, who appeared in newspapers and on television, admitted he lied when he was interviewed yesterday. He had claimed to have drawn upon some Aikido training he undertook as a teenager to fight off the men.
Detective Inspector Dave Murphy said: “This man not only wasted police time, but he also raised the fear of crime in the local community.
“I hope this serves as a lesson to anyone who thinks they can lie to the police and get away with it.”
When the Citizen asked Mr Wood for his version of events, he said he was unable to comment.
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Weather for Wisbech
Wednesday 22 May 2013
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