Man impersonated female police officer to sneak into festival

A man determined to see his favourite band play at a sold-out music festival stole a female police officer's uniform before taking the law into his hands. With no ticket to see headlining band Kasabian play at the Isle of Wight festival, Daniel Tredinnick decided to break into a nearby police car and steal a bag containing a policewoman's uniform. He then snuck into the festival.

Once inside, the avid music fan managed to fool both festival-goers and security guards and even began carrying out official duties by breaking up a fight, helping find a missing woman and chatting to senior officers. Trained first-aider Tredinnick, of Shanklin in the Isle of Wight, then assisted paramedics as they treated an injured reveller.



It was two-and-a-half hours before a keen-eyed security man spotted Tredinnick was not wearing a tie or hat and demanded to see his ID. He was then arrested after showing a fake detective seargent's badge. Defending, Keith Verrinder, said his client had actually been quite useful during the deception.

"It could be said he did no particular harm while dressed as a police officer. Strangely enough, he did more good than harm. He says now it was a very stupid thing to do. He felt it was childish and quite ridiculous but it seemed like a good idea at the time," he said. Tredinnick, who pleaded guilty to stealing a police uniform and impersonating an officer, was given a 16-week suspended sentence.