25 February 2006
Mirror
By Tom Pettifor
A NURSE wept last night as she told how police swooped as she tried to pay £6,000 into a building society, suspecting it was Securitas stolen cash.
Mum-of-three Dawn Bailey, 41, was opening an account at the Portman in Bromley, Kent, with a bundle of £50 notes when staff became suspicious.
They delayed her for half an hour saying there was a computer problem. Dawn, of Brockley, South East London, had drawn the cash out of her Halifax account in Catford.
Dawn, a Salvation Army care nurse, said: "It was taking a long time but I thought it was only because it was so much money. Then suddenly I was surrounded by uniformed policemen who handcuffed me and marched me to a police car.
"It was terrifying. I didn't know what was going on and burst into tears. Later they told me it wasn't my money and that I stole it."
She added: "They kept asking me where I got it from and I kept telling them. I told them all they needed to do was check with the Halifax."
They kept her in a cell overnight while they searched her flat. She was freed on bail until March 28.
Dawn, who lives with her partner and children aged 14, six and four, said: "When I complained they just said, 'Shut up, you're a criminal'.
"I'm going to sue. It was the most distressing experience of my life.
"I spent all last night in a dirty cell crying my eyes out and my family have been traumatised."
The way some of our officers act she was lucky not to be shot 
- but I'm glad they stopped hassling you, once you explained how you printed the notes on your nice new machine...
