'Using a sledgehammer to crack a nut' is how a former city tour operator has described being arrested and held in custody after he failed to attend court.

Frederick Agombar, 67, of The Denes, Norwich, had been charged with two motoring offences and one count of assault, and was due to appear at Norwich Magistrates' Court on Monday.

Mr Agombar, who ran the Sight Seeing Tour of Olde Norwich, did not attend the hearing and was arrested after a warrant was issued.

He spent a night at Aylsham Police Investigation Centre (PIC) after being arrested on Tuesday night.

But Mr Agombar said he contacted his solicitors', Belmores, to tell them he would not be able to attend court and insisted the situation had got out of hand.

He said: 'It's so minor and yet it became so major. All they had to do was phone me – my phone number is everywhere – it's using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.'

Agombar, who was arrested at Spixworth Motel at about 11pm on Tuesday, said he could not attend the hearing as had been away working as an HGV driver and could not get back because of drivers' hours.

He said: 'I rang my solicitors, explained the situation, that I had been working, was sleeping in the cab and couldn't get back.'

Mr Agombar said he had not realised that he would still have to appear at court despite informing his solicitors that he could not attend.

No-one from Belmores was available for comment.

Mr Agombar appeared at Norwich Magistrates' Court on Wednesday where his case was adjourned until November 28.

A spokesman for HM Courts and Tribunal Service said they could not comment as it was a judicial decision.

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