Man arrested over ornamental pig

A former pig farmer was arrested and held by police for more than six hours after a police officer who lived next door complained about an ornamental swine statuette in his garden. Robin Demczak, 57, insists the black and white spotted porcelain pig was in residence in his back garden long before traffic officer PC John Ablett moved in next door.

But police reportedly told Mr Demczak, who now works as a window fitter, that the statuette and a sign saying "no pigs" could be considered as harassment. He was arrested at his home in Witney, Oxfordshire, earlier this month and held for six and a half hours following a complaint.



The arrest reportedly followed an 18-month dispute between the two neighbours over a footpath that splits their back gardens.

Mr Demczak said: "PC Ablett had me arrested because he didn't like me keeping my 12-inch porcelain model pig in the back garden. He seems to think it is offensive to policemen."



He insisted he had painted the sign to reassure passersby that there were no pigs kept in a shed in his back garden he previously used as a pig sty. He explained: "When I got rid of all the pigs, I painted a sign saying there weren't any left in there. That was in case someone was worried about them."

A Thames Valley Police spokesman said: "We can confirm that a man was arrested on suspicion of harassment in relation to the incident. He has been released without charge. But the investigation is still ongoing. There was an ornament in the garden and also some writing on a wall." PC Ablett was unavailable for comment.