Stripping ‘policeman’ delighted but furious as the Crown drops charges

Criminal lowlife label difficult for his family, says student

By Stephen Christie

Published:

Charges against an Aberdeen male stripper who poses as a policeman were dramatically dropped last night.

Stuart Kennedy was expected to appear at the city’s sheriff court on Monday to face charges of impersonating a police officer and carrying an offensive weapon.

But in a dramatic turn of events it was announced yesterday that the Crown has dropped proceedings.

Last night, Mr Kennedy, who is billed as Sergeant Eros, was delighted with the news but “absolutely furious” that it had come this far.

It began more than a year ago when the 25-year-old student was arrested over his performance in March 2007.

He has since had no fewer than 17 court appearances, been arrested four times and it is thought that police and court time has cost the taxpayer anything between £20,000 and £25,000.

Grampian Police and the procurator fiscal have been criticised over the time and money spent on the case.

Yesterday’s news comes just days after judges at the Court of Appeal in Edinburgh agreed that Mr Kennedy’s truncheon – part of his routine – was not an offensive weapon in relation to a separate case.

The Aberdeen University genetics student went on trial last year accused of carrying two batons and a spray without lawful authority.

His case, however, was thrown out of Aberdeen Sheriff Court after the sheriff ruled he had a “reasonable excuse” to carry the batons. The sheriff’s decision was quickly appealed by prosecutors but appeal judges last month backed the sheriff’s ruling.

A statement last night from the Crown Office confirmed that the proceedings had been dropped. It said: “Following the decision by the Criminal Court of Appeal last month, we have concluded that no further proceedings should be taken.”

Mr Kennedy, of Don Street, Aberdeen, said last night: “Although I am glad that this has not gone to court, I am absolutely furious that it has gone this far. This has been 14 months of my life since the first arrest on March 18 last year and now amounts to 17 court appearances.

“It is ridiculous that I was arrested in the first place and crazier that the fiscal took it to court.”

Mr Kennedy works for Aberdeen-based firm Alpha Male Strippers and adopts a number of guises during his routines.

He said the arrests had dented his reputation.

“Taking my clothes off for money brought enough shame to my parents but to be branded this criminal lowlife is a lot harder for my family to accept,” he said.

Mr Kennedy was first cleared of carrying an offensive weapon when he appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court in December.