Arrests after 'rare' plant hunt

The men wanted to feed the plants to pet tortoises

Three men who were arrested for taking a rare plant from a beach to feed their tortoises have lodged an official complaint with Sussex Police.

Simon Braisby said he is disgusted that he and his two friends were handcuffed, locked up for seven hours and had his house searched after they took the weed from a beach at Eastbourne.

Mr Braisby, 30, was with his brother-in-law Tony Sims, and another friend when they picked sea kale from near the Sovereign Centre to feed their five tortoises.

He said they were seized about three miles from the beach by officers in squad cars and on a motorcycle.

It is just disgusting to think people have searched our house

Simon Braisby

He said: "The first thing we saw was a police motorcycle pulling up beside us.

"We thought he was just pulling us over for a normal stop check.

"He opened the bags and started pulling out weeds and we all started laughing but they took it very seriously.

"There must have been about 10 or 15 officers."

After being taken to the police station the three men were eventually released without charge.

Rare flora

Eastbourne Borough Council has defended the actions of the police and said the sea kale is rare and it is important to protect it.

But Mr Braisby, from Broderick Road, who lives with Mr Sims, said they were not doing any damage.

He said: "We were picking the inner part of the weed which encourages the outer part to grow and establish itself.

"It is just disgusting to think people have searched our house."

A spokesman for Sussex Police said it was inappropriate to comment at this time because there had been a formal complaint lodged.