The political career of ex Liberal leader, Charles Kennedy, hit a new low yesterday as he faced charges of assault and public nudity at Bow street magistrates court.
The former politician was arrested on Sunday evening at 'The Black Swan' public house in Putney, whilst celebrating his recent comeback into the public arena.
Police were dispatched after a 999 call was made claiming that a naked man, wearing only a traffic cone on his head had climbed onto the roof of the pub and was refusing to come down.
Police sources would only confirm that a ginger haired Scotsman had been apprehended after a two hour stand-off and was now in custody. However an eyewitness at the pub claimed, "It was unbelievable! Kennedy had been in the park with his mates drinking cider and when he came in it was obvious he was looking for trouble. Next thing I know he's scrambling up the drainpipe in the buff and challenging Ming Campbell to a scrap!"
Mr Kennedy has long been dogged by rumours of alcoholism and this would appear to be yet another setback in his already troubled political career.
A local resident said yesterday, "He's a feckin' disgrace, he was up there for two hours throwing slates at the police and pissing on the carpark. I hope they throw the book at him."
Police confirmed last night that Mr Kennedy had been charged with assaulting a policewoman with a traffic cone and public indecency.
Chief Constable Bob Sputum praised the efforts of the police officers involved, "This was a very delicate situation," he revealed to waiting journalists, "and could have gone either way. Mr Kennedy was clearly tired and emotional and my officers were faced with the dilemma of how to get him down. I fully support their decision to knock him off the roof with a rubber bullet and set the dogs on him.'
