Former BNP councillor fined £200 for resisting arrest

Robert Sutcliffe | Thursday, 11 May 2006 Source: Yorkshire Post

A FORMER British National Party councillor abused police when they tried to break up a drunken row between her and another woman a court heard.

Angela Clarke, who stood down from Bradford Council in February, admitted resisting arrest during the incident in September, last year.

Her behaviour was branded "unseemly" by District Judge David Thomas at Bradford Magistrates Court.

The 37-year-old mother-of-two, who represented the Keighley West ward, was fined £200. She appeared with Paul O'Gara, 41, who also admitted resisting police and who received the same fine.

Clarke, of Bankfield Drive, Keighley, had been drinking when she was spotted arguing with a woman behind a pub in Keighley, on September 4, last year. Prosecutor Duncan Wilcock said she became abusive as officers approached. They left after O'Gara intervened and said he would "calm her down".

But as the officers drove away the argument continued and they decided to go back. "Clarke's language was not impressive and for that reason they arrested her," Mr Wilcock said.

"She became abusive, making life difficult for the officers. When the officers arrested her, O'Gara took hold of Clarke and resisted officers when they came to remove his arms from her."

Keith Blackwell, defending, described Clarke as a "spirited and emotional woman.

John Holden, for O'Gara, of Worth Avenue, Stocksbridge, Keighley, said: "He tried to calm things down but when it became a forlorn hope to do that he should have withdrawn."