No Charge For Pub Singer Over 'Racist' Song

28 April 2011, 08:15 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

A pub singer who was arrested on the Isle of Wight over allegations of racial abuse after playing the song Kung Fu Fighting, as two Chinese people walked past, has been released without charge.

34 year old Simon Ledger, was arrested over the incident at Sandown and placed on 'street bail'.

He voluntarily attended Newport police station yesterday (27th April) where he was questioned over the alleged incident, said to have taken place at the Driftwood Beach Bar on Sunday afternoon.

A Hampshire Police spokesman said he was interviewed by police on suspicion of causing racially aggravated harassment, alarm or distress under section 4A of the Public Order Act 1986.

He was released with no further action due to insufficient evidence to prove that any criminal offence had been committed.

Mr Ledger told The Sun he was already playing the 1974 hit by Carl Douglas when the 32-year-old man of Chinese origin and a woman went past.

"Chinese people have never been offended by it before. We hadn't even seen them when we started the song. He must have phoned the police.''

He said he was phoned at a Chinese restaurant that night and arrested.

"I thought it was a joke but they were serious. It's political correctness gone potty,'' he told the paper.

The police spokesman said: "Anyone who perceives they are the victim of a racially aggravated crime is entitled to make a report to the police.

"We will treat such allegations seriously to provide reassurance for victims and to protect the integrity of appropriate lines of inquiry."