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Welsh speaking drunk in English police cell insists on interpreter

A drunken man who was arrested in Manchester demanded an interpreter after telling police he would only speak in Welsh. Officers spent four hours trying to find a Welsh language expert to deal with the man, 26, who could speak perfectly good English.

But they failed to find a translator and had to let him go without charge.

The Welsh speaker was arrested on this street for being drunk and disorderly. Credit: Google Streetview

Officers went onto Twitter to blast the "difficult and time-wasting" prisoner who was arrested at 2am for a public order offence in Sackville Street, Manchester.

Their official tweet said: "Drunk and disorderly - despite speaking English in custody, insisted on Welsh interpreter which we struggled to find.

"And no, it's not a dig at the Welsh, just frustration and feeling that someone was being difficult needlessly."

The un-named man was bailed to return to the police station when sober and he accepted an £80 fixed penalty fine - written in English.

Credit: PA

We spent several hours trying to find an interpreter for the man who has Welsh roots. He's wasted his own time and our time. At least he saw sense in the end.

– Greater Manchester Police