Arrested for charging an iPhone on the train

A PASSENGER was arrested on suspicion of stealing electricity after charging his iPhone on a train.

Artist Robin Lee, 45, was handcuffed and taken into a police van after an officer spotted him using a plug socket on the London Overground. It was supposed to be for cleaners’ use only.

Mr Lee added: ‘A community support officer came up to me and said I couldn’t use the plug and that I was stealing electricity and should be arrested.

‘I thought it was a mistake and tried to make light of it, but she said I was abstracting electricity.

‘As we pulled up at the station there were four police officers on the platform. They were being very aggressive.

‘They were saying “we can arrest you for this” and I just went, “OK, arrest me” and they did.’ Mr Lee said he was taken to the British Transport Police base in Islington, North London, where he was ‘de-arrested’ before being immediately arrested again for ‘unacceptable behaviour’.

He said of the incident on Friday: ‘It’s just ridiculous and a waste of police time.

‘There were no signs on display saying the public couldn’t use [the plug] and my phone must have been on charge for five minutes.’

British Transport Police said: ‘We were called to Camden Road London Overground station to a report of a man becoming aggressive when challenged by a PCSO about his use of a plug socket.’