A man dressed as Santa Claus was Saint Nicked after climbing on a statue of the Duke of Wellington in Glasgow city centre
Crowd jeering polis: 'Free Santa!' pic.twitter.com/SHjZfo6jqi
— Mike Wade (@mikewadejourno) December 17, 2014 A man dressed as Father Christmas was arrested by police after climbing on a statue in Glasgow.
Crowds gathered as the 51-year-old prankster climbed the statue of the Duke of Wellington in Glasgow's city centre.
He was seen sitting on the back of Wellington's horse, waving to crowds, before firefighters were called in to get him down.
@stvglasgow Santa on the statue! https://t.co/NMhp5PDJNp
— Laura Forsyth (@STVlauraforsyth) December 17, 2014 After fire crews returned him safely to the ground, he was quickly bundled into a police van by waiting officers.
The gathered crowd reportedly jeered at the police, shouting "Free Santa."
Ruth Broers, 31, had stepped out of her office for lunch when she saw people congregating around the statue by Royal Exchange Square.
The marketing manager said: "It was hilarious and all very good-natured. There were loads of people watching and he was waving at them.
"He was obviously well prepared because he had a harness with him. He was up there for quite a while, then the fire service put up a ladder and a fireman chatted to him before he came down.
"There were cheers when he was rescued but as soon as he was down the police put him in a van and everyone booed."
Police are trying to arrest this guy, only in Scotland. pic.twitter.com/PSXDt50r86
— Tam Selleck (@TomSelleckCSC) December 17, 2014 A spokesperson for Police Scotland said: "A 51-year-old man has been issued with a fixed penalty notice, following an incident at the Duke of Wellington statue in Royal Exchange Square on Wednesday, December 17th."
The police spokesperson wouldn't identify the jolly fellow - and couldn't confirm or deny whether he was, in fact, Father Christmas himself.
However, they did confirm that the man was not held in custody and was released after being given the fine, meaning he'll be able to fly across the world delivering gifts to children should he wish to.
