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Eubank speaks out after lorry arrest
by Phil Mills
Chris Eubank says he drove the lorry away because it was preventing people taking children to school Chris Eubank is on bail following his arrest for driving away someone else's lorry because it was blocking traffic.
The former middleweight boxing champion said he was just being a gentlemen when he commandeered the beer lorry which had been parked while it made a delivery.
Eubank was driving his children to school when he ran into a traffic jam in Sydney Street, Brighton, yesterday morning.
The 38-year-old, who lives in Upper Drive, Hove, said: "There were others in the queue who were trying to take their kids to school.
"I was being a gentleman."
Eubank was driving a new US Hummer military 4x4, when he ran into the jam. He waited but then walked to the head of the queue.
When the draymen making the delivery did not move the lorry, Eubank climbed in the cab, drove off, clipped a lamp post on route, before mounting a pavement and stopping in adjoining Kensington Street.
He ran back to his truck, drove his children to school, then returned to Sydney Street, telling police: "Officers, I think you are looking for me. They said I was under arrest for taking a vehicle that didn't belong to me."
Eubank said he had asked the draymen to move the lorry but they refused, saying they wanted 20 minutes to finish their delivery.
Eubank said: "I said to one of them if you don't move it, I will and he said, 'go on then'.
"He was calling my bluff and I am the wrong man to do that to."
Eubank was arrested on su****ion of aggravated taking away and was held for most of the morning at the Hollingbury custody centre, Brighton.
Eubank said he was qualified to drive the beer lorry.
The drama started at 8am when Cat Gahan went to her car parked outside The Office pub in Sydney Street.
The 40-year-old mother of the three said: "You're allowed to park in the bay until 9am but when I got there this brewery dray was parked alongside.
"I said sorry to the drayman but he wasn't in the best of moods.
"I popped to the post office and when I came back I saw the lorry being driven off - with Chris Eubank at the wheel.
"Eubank spoke to the drayman and was swearing in front of my children. It was very distasteful."
Some customers and shopkeepers in Sydney Street said Eubank had brightened up their day.
One said: "Chris is a hero round here. He's brilliant but daft - we'd all like to do the things he does sometimes but you can't expect to get away with it."
Lewis Taylor, 83, was driving his granddaughter to school and was in Sydney Street at the time.
He said: "I say more power to him and if push came to shove I would be the first to stand up in court and defend him.
"There were lots of people trying to take their children to school and the lorry driver had an alternative which would have resolved the situation.
"I've never been a great fan of Mr Eubank but he has gone up in my estimation. I want to thank him for what he did."
Earlier this year Eubank donated his Harley Davidson to The Argus/Unicef Tsunami disaster, a spokeswoman for the former boxer said he was planning to run a competition for his bike on his own site www.chriseubank.tv to help raise money for the victims of the disaster.
by Phil Mills
Chris Eubank says he drove the lorry away because it was preventing people taking children to school Chris Eubank is on bail following his arrest for driving away someone else's lorry because it was blocking traffic.
The former middleweight boxing champion said he was just being a gentlemen when he commandeered the beer lorry which had been parked while it made a delivery.
Eubank was driving his children to school when he ran into a traffic jam in Sydney Street, Brighton, yesterday morning.
The 38-year-old, who lives in Upper Drive, Hove, said: "There were others in the queue who were trying to take their kids to school.
"I was being a gentleman."
Eubank was driving a new US Hummer military 4x4, when he ran into the jam. He waited but then walked to the head of the queue.
When the draymen making the delivery did not move the lorry, Eubank climbed in the cab, drove off, clipped a lamp post on route, before mounting a pavement and stopping in adjoining Kensington Street.
He ran back to his truck, drove his children to school, then returned to Sydney Street, telling police: "Officers, I think you are looking for me. They said I was under arrest for taking a vehicle that didn't belong to me."
Eubank said he had asked the draymen to move the lorry but they refused, saying they wanted 20 minutes to finish their delivery.
Eubank said: "I said to one of them if you don't move it, I will and he said, 'go on then'.
"He was calling my bluff and I am the wrong man to do that to."
Eubank was arrested on su****ion of aggravated taking away and was held for most of the morning at the Hollingbury custody centre, Brighton.
Eubank said he was qualified to drive the beer lorry.
The drama started at 8am when Cat Gahan went to her car parked outside The Office pub in Sydney Street.
The 40-year-old mother of the three said: "You're allowed to park in the bay until 9am but when I got there this brewery dray was parked alongside.
"I said sorry to the drayman but he wasn't in the best of moods.
"I popped to the post office and when I came back I saw the lorry being driven off - with Chris Eubank at the wheel.
"Eubank spoke to the drayman and was swearing in front of my children. It was very distasteful."
Some customers and shopkeepers in Sydney Street said Eubank had brightened up their day.
One said: "Chris is a hero round here. He's brilliant but daft - we'd all like to do the things he does sometimes but you can't expect to get away with it."
Lewis Taylor, 83, was driving his granddaughter to school and was in Sydney Street at the time.
He said: "I say more power to him and if push came to shove I would be the first to stand up in court and defend him.
"There were lots of people trying to take their children to school and the lorry driver had an alternative which would have resolved the situation.
"I've never been a great fan of Mr Eubank but he has gone up in my estimation. I want to thank him for what he did."
Earlier this year Eubank donated his Harley Davidson to The Argus/Unicef Tsunami disaster, a spokeswoman for the former boxer said he was planning to run a competition for his bike on his own site www.chriseubank.tv to help raise money for the victims of the disaster.
I think his heart is in the right place though.
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