Tony Shookhye bids to clear his name

AT just five foot five inches tall and tipping the scales at about nine stones, 64-year-old charity worker and retired nurse Tony Shookhye hardly fits the public's image of a brutal mugger.

However, for a few hours on Thursday, that's exactly what he thought he was suspected of.

He was questioned by Lanark police in connection with a series of incidents he claimed he had absolutely no involvement in.

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He emerged after over an hour's questioning at Lanark Police Station badly shaken and is now seeking an apology and public statement from the police, entirely clearing his name.

Tony, of Kirkfieldbank, came to this country from Mauritius over 40 years ago to work as a psychiatric nurse.

He said: "At first, I thought someone was playing a joke.

"I left the ALVO charity shop, where I work one day a week as a volunteer, to go to my car when I noticed a police car parked nearby.

"It moved out and blocked me from leaving the parking area. The officers got out and one of them told me that there had been a mugging earlier that day and they were looking for someone fitting my description.

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"I thought that this was just mad; I mean, do I look like a mugger?

"I'd like some public statement to clear my name."

The Gazette obtained confirmation that Tony had been eliminated from inquiries from area police commander, Chief Inspector Colin Murphy.

He told the Gazette that the police had acted on a specific report which had turned out to be a case of mistaken identity.

The matter was resolved after police had a chance to talk to Tony and confirm he was not the person being sought for the incident.

For more on this story, pick up a copy of this week's Lanark Gazette, which is in the shops now, priced just 48p.

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