The tables were turned on Tariq Mahmood when he contacted Cambridge police claiming he had been harassed by a peaceful activist.

A group of campaigners went to the Varsity Hotel for a peaceful demonstration against the Varsity for boiling lobsters alive in their restaurant, Riverbar.

Mahmood became very erratic and aggressive towards a female protester. When her son, Aran Mathai, concerned for her safety, stepped in Mahmood called for the police accusing Mr Mathai of causing him harassment, alarm and distress. Mr Mathai was arrested, charged and a court date set for trial.

Mahmood did not mention he had any connection with the hotel to the activists, police or the court – presenting himself as attending the hotel to ‘visit friends’. However under cross-examination in court he admitted he was a ‘senior sales director’ at the hotel. He still failed to mention however that he is actually the co-owner of the Varsity Hotel as is made clear in Companies House records.

In the court case that ensued it emerged that it was actually Mahmood that had been the aggressor and Aran Mathai was found “Not Guilty” as his sole purpose had been to protect his mother as opposed to “intentionally causing harassment, alarm or distress” (the offence he was charged under – Section 4A Public Order act, 1986).

Rachel Mathai said, “My son is not a mindless bully but someone who bravely stands against injustice. The Cambridge magistrates were very fair minded, unbiased and professional. I hope Mahmood will see that he cannot behave this way with a female again. It is hardly surprising that he has no understanding of the suffering he is causing the lobsters.”

Aran Mathai, after being cleared of the charge said, “It is not Mahmood that is being caused alarm and distress but rather the lobsters being boiled alive in the restaurant he owns. Cambridgeshire police have a history of suppressing peaceful protest – hopefully this defeat will make them rethink their approach.”