Peter James Does Time!
Well, I suppose it had to happen one day - that I would fall foul of the law.... and here are the pictures below to show the whole sorry saga....!
Arrested
Charge being read out: "Crimes against sartorial elegance and wearing loud socks"
Being processed...
Languishing behind bars
Time to reflect on my crimes... especially as my cellmate is not too chatty...
Time continues to drag... and I've only been here half an hour. Feels like a life sentence already...
Peter James Charge Sheet
What these photos do not show is that I was not alone! Also in the cells were Dame Vera Lynn, Martin Richards, the Chief Constable of Sussex, The Chief Executive of Brighton and Hove, The Chief Executive of The Albion football club and the Lord Lieutenant of East Sussex! What terrible misdemeanours had we all committed????
This was a fund-raising event for Sussex Crimestoppers, of which, along with Dame Vera, I'm co-patron and for the wonderfully restored Old Police Museum. (this incidentally has some real history - the old Brighton Police Station is where the only serving Chief Constable in the UK has ever been murdered!)
In order to be released we had to raise a minimum of £500 from phoning friends. I'm pleased to say we were all successful, and my generous mates stumped up almost £3,000 - mind you there were several who offered to pay a lot more if I was kept inside!!!!! The event was a huge success, raising over £12,000 on the day towards a target of £20,000.
Not many people realise the vital role Crimestoppers play in the fight against crime - not that it is almost totally funded by donations. Crimestoppers give the public the ability to report crime totally anonymously, without any fear that they will subsequently be dragged into court as witnesses. The classic example is a resident who believes a particular address in their street is being used by drug dealers. If they phoned the Police there is a risk that the dealers would find out who reported them and make reprisals. Crimestoppers guarantees absolute anonymity. It is a cause that is hugely worth supporting.
I have to say, being processed and incarcerated is a truly horrible experience. That sudden loss of liberty, even though I knew it was only for a short time, is very scary, and it is incredibly how quickly you start to feel "institutionalised". I'm really quite pleased to be out. I'm going straight from now on, I promise....!
6 Comments:
At 2:34 PM ,
Steve said...
Well done Peter. Can't have the creator of my patient being left to spend his days in jail! Mind you, think of how many Roy Grace novels you would have time to write. He would be bound to need a root canal treatment eventually!
Very best wishes
Steve
At 5:36 PM ,
Peter James said...
Yes and you could have left a file in the cell for him.... !!!
At 12:27 PM ,
Marcel said...
Wow, what a plot twist! The writer is actually the criminal. I had sensed that much.... Friday I picked up my Dutch copy of Dead Tomorrow. Kind of surprised to just have is stare at me from the bookshelve in the store with no warning. But very glad I've been able to start reading it. In Holland it's named "Ten Dode Opgeschreven". Thanks Peter for the reading-fun I will be having the coming period. Cheers, Marcel
At 1:25 PM ,
Peter James said...
My pleasure, Marcel - hope you enjoy it!
At 12:26 PM ,
NR said...
I've just finished reading Dead Tomorrow and I just could not put it down. A very chilling story.
At 4:36 PM ,
Anonymous said...
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