A MAN who made a "citizens' arrest" of three youths he believed were damaging his property and shouting abuse at him has appeared in court charged with assault.

Keith Irwen, 30, of Chorley New Road, Lostock, denied assaulting the teenagers who had been part of a group congregating near his house.

The boys, a 15-year-old and two 14-year-olds, told Wigan magistrates that while they had been with three other youths who had taunted and verbally abused Irwen, they had played no part in that.

The 15-year-old alleges Irwen punched him in the face and slapped him on the back of his head.

Another told the court his arm had been hurt by the defendant pinning it fiercely around his back, while the third claims he was almost chocked.

But in a statement, Irwen said he had marched two of the youths, holding only the back of their coat collars, into his kitchen.

The third received similar treatment shortly after, when he stood outside shouting abuse.

The court was told that Irwen's house was on the corner of a quiet cul-de-sac and the incident happened in the early evening, shortly after he arrived home.

The 15-year-old told the court the group of six boys, together with three girls, had been standing further up the cul-de-sac talking.

"The three others then said: 'Let's get a chase off Mr Irwen'," he said. "Then they saw his car park up and said: 'Come on, let's go down'.

"The three of them walked down to the edge of his driveway. I remained about 100 yards up the road with the other two."

He described how the other three shouted at the kitchen window and began banging a paving slab that was on the wall on his drive.

The court was told that shortly afterwards, Irwen phoned the police. His statement said: "I contacted the police and, while I was on hold, I put my wife on the telephone.

"I went to a neighbour and went in his car to apprehend the youths before the police arrived.

"I saw two of them in a ginnel and they ran when I got out of the car and gave chase. I got the collars at the back of their coats.

"I told one of them to open the car door, but the other threw himself into a bush and started to scream and scream.

"I dragged him to his feet and walked them down to my house. I never let go of their collars. I did not strike them.

"In my house I put the youths with their backs to one another and rang the police to say I had them there.

"A neighbour then shouted to me that another youth was there shouting for his friends.

"He was being abusive, so I grabbed the back of his collar and his arm became semi-entwined in his coat as I pushed him into the house. The police then arrived."

However, one of the youths first apprehended by Irwen told the court: "Mr Irwen frightened me. We kept telling him: 'We didn't do anything. You have got the wrong lads'."

The father of one of the boys appeared at the same time as the police. He told the court: "I was at home but heard screams from outside. They appeared to be of anguish and they caused me some concern.

"I got dressed and went to go and have a look what was happening.

"Mr Irwen was very aggressive. The boys were frightened and one burst into tears when I walked into the kitchen. When I asked him what the boys had done all he could say was they were guilty by association."

The trial has been adjourned until November 16.

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