Man, 54, spends 18 hours in police cell, has his DNA taken and is put on trial ... accused of dropping an apple core. He had only popped out to do a couple of errands for his disabled wife.

But 54-year-old Keith Hirst ended up spending the night in a police cell after being accused of dropping an apple core.

Despite strenuously denying the allegation, the ex-plumber, who suffers from a heart condition, was taken into custody by up to five uniformed officers and had his DNA and fingerprints taken.

By then his worried family were calling local hospitals fearing he had been in an accident, and it wasn't until nearly 11pm that he was able to ring them and explain what had happened.

After finally being released having spent 18 hours behind bars, Mr Hirst said yesterday he would fight to clear his name in a case which could leave him with a criminal record and cost the taxpayer thousands of pounds.

"The way I was treated you would have thought I had robbed a bank," he said. "My family are law-abiding people, and I would help if I saw a gang of yobs attacking a police officer.

"But this kind of incident does not help in improving relations between the community and police. I suppose £50 for an on-the-spot fine is easy money for them."

Mr Hirst had just come out of the Post Office near his home in Swinton, Greater Manchester when he was accused of littering by a "baying" police community support officer.

"I came out and started walking towards a chemist to get my wife a prescription," he said. "I got a tap on the shoulder and turned round.

"There was a chap there in a fluorescent jacket, big sunglasses, and a baseball cap, on a bike, with a wad of tickets and a pen. He said 'Why did you drop that apple core?', and I told him I didn't drop an apple core.

"He then said he wanted my name and address. He was an over-zealous young lad baying to give me a ticket.

"I told him I was on my way to the shops but would be walking back that way if he wanted to speak to me later."

Mr Hirst continued on his way, but when he emerged from the chemists he claimed he was surrounded by five uniformed police officers.

"I said I had done nothing wrong and so was not telling them who I was. The most senior police officer said they would have to take me into custody."

He was taken to the police station where his belongings were taken off him and his DNA and fingerprints recorded before being locked in the cells overnight.

While there he twice had to be seen by a doctor after complaining of dizziness and chest pains.

After being charged with littering and obstructing a police officer, the following morning he was handcuffed to a security guard and hauled before the local magistrate court.

His wife, who is disabled due to a back problem, said: "The first I knew about it was when Keith called at 10.45pm - he had gone to the Post Office at lunchtime.

"We did not know where he was and my daughter had been ringing hospitals as we thought something had happened to him.

"I think the whole case is ridiculous when you think of the cost for such a stupid thing."

However a police source said Mr Hirst had "flung" the apple core across the road, almost hitting someone.

The source added that Mr Hirst refused to give his details to a single officer called in by the PCSO as back-up after he behaved rudely and aggressively, and that he in turn requested two more officers to arrest him.

At no stage did he provide his address, otherwise he would have been released from custody soon afterwards rather than spending the night in the cells, the source went on.

The obstruction charge was later dropped but Mr Hirst is due to stand trial for last month's alleged littering offence before a district judge.

If convicted, he could face a £2,500 fine or up to six months' imprisonment.

Superintendent Ian Palmer, of Greater Manchester Police, said his officers were expected to take a tough stance on all "environmental crime".

He added: "Littering is an offence and we work tirelessly to ensure the streets are not only safe but also clean."

Earlier this year the Daily Mail told how mother-of-three Kate Badger, from Wolverhampton, appeared in court after being accused of throwing an apple core from her car.

The case against the 25-year-old, which dragged on for a year and cost at least £2,800, was eventually dropped.

In Hull, Sarah Davies, 20, was fined £75 after accidentally dropping a piece of sausage roll she was feeding to her four-year-old daughter, while in Whitehaven, Cumbria, Gareth Corkhill was ordered by magistrates to pay £210 for having his wheelie bin so full the lid wouldn't shut.

And you thought the cop's were tough here??