Thief caught attempting to flush T-shirt proof down the bathroom
- Benjamin Mitchell, 33, was caught trying to flush his T-shirt down the toilet
This is the moment a thug was captured on CCTV attempting to flush vital evidence down a toilet in a police custody block.
Benjamin Mitchell, 33, was caught red-handed as he tried and failed to flush his T-shirt down the loo at a police station, causing a blockage.
The crook was previously arrested for hitting a man over the head with a glass bottle during a scuffle in Nottingham city centre.
A court heard the assault sparked a mass brawl involving a number of other people at around 5.20pm on May 20.
After being arrested, officers advised Mitchell his T-shirt would need to be seized from him as it matched one seen in CCTV footage.
But when officers returned to his cell, the T-shirt was nowhere to be found and Mitchell was topless.
Benjamin Mitchell, 33, flushes his T-shirt down the toilet in a police custody block
Mitchell was arrested for hitting a man over the head with a glass bottle during a scuffle in Nottingham city centre
CCTV checks revealed that, as soon as officers closed the door hatch, Mitchell flushed the T-shirt down the toilet.
He went on to plead guilty to wounding or inflicting grievous bodily harm without intent and committing an act with intent to pervert the course of justice.
Mitchell, of Arnold, Nottingham, who has previously served three custodial sentences for wounding offences, was jailed for 20 months on Thursday.
He was also made subject of a two-year restraining order that prohibits him from contacting the victim either directly or indirectly.
Nottingham Crown Court heard the victim – who was celebrating his 25th birthday – was sat outside the former Debenhams store when he was approached by a young ‘wannabe gangster’ who demanded a cigarette.
He said that when he told the younger person ‘manners cost nothing, say please’, an argument then broke out which prompted Mitchell to become involved.
The man said Mitchell smashed him over the head with a glass bottle, which prompted him to retaliate.
He was then chased for a short distance before being kicked to the ground.
Mitchell’s actions sparked a heavy police response in Nottingham city centre
After shocked onlookers called 999, officers found the victim falling in and out of consciousness having suffered a seizure.
He was taken to Queen’s Medical Centre and treated for three cracked ribs and a large cut to the head that required eight stitches.
Days later, police received a tip-off that the man who glassed the victim went by the nickname ‘Scarface’.
From this clue, an investigating officer established a suspect who went on to be positively identified by the victim.
In his basis of plea, Mitchell gave a different version of events to the one provided by the victim.
He claimed he was being set upon by other people who’d falsely accused him of stealing a bicycle and that he’d ‘picked up a bottle and lashed out recklessly’.
Detective Constable Michael Love, of Nottinghamshire Police, said after the case: ‘This was a disgraceful assault that took place in broad daylight in a busy part of the city.
‘Mitchell once again displayed appalling violence and it is fortunate his victim was not more seriously hurt.
‘Even in custody, Mitchell did what he could in a desperate attempt to derail the investigation.
‘He has shown no remorse for his actions and fully deserves to be back behind bars.
‘As investigating officer I am pleased that justice has been done and hope today’s sentencing will bring some degree of closure to the victim.
‘I also think this case should serve as a warning to others about the serious consequences to being a perpetrator of violence.’
