18-05-2025
Man accused of fake ‘cop' scam says it was just a ‘prank'
Charlie Ward was charged after police received a report of a motorist impersonating a police officer by using flashing lights to stop another vehicle
Charlie Ward was charged after police received a report of a motorist impersonating a police officer by using flashing lights to stop another vehicle at the Crankill Road dual-carriageway near Ballymena.
This is the Co Down driver accused of pretending to be a cop and flashing down another driver
A man accused of posing as a cop and using flashing lights to flag down another driver has told this paper it was just a 'prank'.
Charlie Ward was charged after police received a report of a motorist impersonating a police officer by using flashing lights to stop another vehicle at the Crankill Road dual-carriageway near Ballymena last year.
The 21-year-old, with an address listed as Downpatrick Road, Killough, Co Down, is charged with impersonating a police officer on December 28.
During the alleged incident the driver of the other car pulled over believing Ward was the PSNI but grew suspicious when Ward was unable to provide any ID to confirm this.
Ward was driving an Audi A3 and a police report at the time of the incident, which was released to the press, stated there were two other men in the back of his car.
It also said that even after the person had driven off after becoming concerned, Ward continued to follow the driver.
This is the Co Down driver accused of pretending to be a cop and flashing down another driver
News in 90 Seconds - May 18th
Speaking to the Sunday World this week, a sheepish Ward said: 'It was just a prank – I didn't realise how serious it would turn out to be – but here we are.'
He said he'd be pleading guilty to the charges but didn't know when the next hearing was scheduled.
And he added politely: 'I regret it big time – don't suppose there's anyway you can keep it out of the paper?'
The particulars of the charge are 'with intent to deceive impersonated a member of the police force, or makes a statement or did an act calculated falsely to suggest that he was such a member, contrary to Section 67(1) Police (Northern Ireland) Act 1998'.
Ward is further accused of driving dangerously on roads, according to the charge sheet, between Crankill Road and Sandyknowes on the M2 motorway on December 28.
Court News NI reported the case was mentioned at Ballymena Magistrates Court this week.
No details were given to the court about the background to the charges and the case was adjourned to later this month to get the defendant's attitude to the charges he faces.
Charlie Ward was charged after police received a report of a motorist impersonating a police officer by using flashing lights to stop another vehicle at the Crankill Road dual-carriageway near Ballymena.
In December police issued a press release saying they received a report of a man impersonating a police officer in the Ballymena area.
Chief Inspector Redmond said: 'We received a report at approximately 7.30pm on Saturday, 28th December that a dark-coloured Audi A3, driven by a man, used flashing lights to stop another car in the Crankill Road area.
'The member of the public believed this to be a police vehicle and pulled over. However, he became suspicious when the man could not produce any form of official police identification and was not wearing a uniform.
'We understand two other men were also in the back of the car. He subsequently drove off and was followed by the suspicious vehicle for a short time before reporting what happened to police.'
