Worker shamed by 'thief' sign escapes with caution while boss charged with false imprisonment - Update

A boss who frogmarched a worker to the police station with a sign around his neck branding him a thief has been charged over the stunt.

Simon Cremer, 44, tied Mark Gilbert's hands, hung a sign round his neck saying "thief" and walked him through a town centre to the police station after he discovered he had tried to take £845 from the business.

Mr Gilbert was arrested for theft, admitted the crime and was given a caution but Mr Cremer, and three workers, have been charged with false imprisonment. Mr Cremer from Little Maplestead, Essex, who runs In House Flooring, said: "I'm pretty gutted to be honest, I can't believe the police system."



Mr Gilbert, 39, from Colchester, Essex, stole a cheque from the flooring firm where he worked, made it out for £845 and cashed it for holiday spending money. He was discovered when the cheque, for a redundant business account, bounced.

His boss allegedly tackled him to the ground and tied him up before marching him to a nearby police station.

Mr Cremer and three workers, who have not been named, answered bail at Braintree Police Station in Essex, hoping they too would received cautions but were charged. They are due to appear at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court in December.

Previously.