Mayor is held after 'pub fight'

Jul 16 2007

THE mayor of Lichfield spent a night behind bars after he was arrested after a pub fight involving two other men and a woman.

Conservative councillor Michael Fryers was arrested following the incident at the King's Head pub in the Staffordshire city in the early hours of Saturday morning.

He was arrested, along with another man, on suspicion of assault just after 1am on Saturday.

Staffordshire Police confirmed two men had been arrested. A spokesman said: "Police attended the report of an incident at the King's Head pub in Bird Street, Lichfield.

"Two men, aged 59 and 64, were subsequently arrested for assault on a 54-year-old local man who sustained minor injuries and did not require hospital treatment."

Speaking about the arrest, local Tory MP Michael Fabricant said: "In Lichfield, as in the rest of England, we are innocent until we are proven guilty.

"Mike is a popular and colourful character representing some of the more deprived parts of Lichfield.

"He has been an excellent councillor. As I understand it Mike has not even been charged by the police with any offence so any speculation regarding his future as mayor is completely inappropriate."

Coun Fryers said he would not be commenting under advice from his solicitor.