Colchester A boss who frogmarched a worker to the police station with a sign around his neck saying “thief” has been charged with false imprisonment.

Simon Cremer, 44, also tied Mark Gilbert’s hands when he took him through Witham town centre after he discovered that the carpet fitter had tried to take £845 from his business, In House Flooring. Gilbert was arrested for theft, admitted the crime and was given a caution.

Mr Cremer, and three of his workers in their twenties, have been charged and will have to appear in court. Mr Cremer from Little Maplestead, Essex, said yesterday: “I’m pretty gutted, to be honest.”

Gilbert, 39, from Colchester, stole a cheque from the flooring firm, wrote it out for £845 and cashed it for holiday spending money. The cheque, for a redundant business account, bounced. He says that when the theft was discovered he was punched and threatened with tools.

Mr Cremer said that there had been no violence and that he had bound Mr Gilbert’s hands for his own protection in case he fought back.

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