EXCLUSIVE Revealed: Woman, 50, 'arrested for sitting on bench' is Covid conspiracy theorist who believes virus is 'no worse than getting the sniffles' as police say video was 'stage managed' by anti-lockdown protesters
- Marcia Baker, 50, was arrested by three police officers for 'sitting on a bench'
- Footage of Saturday's arrest in Bournemouth was posted and shared online
- Ms Baker is a Covid conspiracy theorist who believes Covid is like the 'sniffles'
- She is known in the Bournemouth area for her part in anti-lockdown protests A woman arrested for allegedly sitting on a bench is a Covid conspiracy theorist who believes that the virus is no worse than getting the 'sniffles,' MailOnline can reveal.
Tattoo artist Marcia Baker was videoed being arrested by three officers in a Bournemouth park on Saturday.
In the video, which was widely shared online, she tells them: 'I was sitting on a bench'.
But Marcia, 50, is well known within the Bournemouth area for her opposition to the lockdown and had attended an anti-lockdown protest in the town on Saturday, prior to her arrest.
The single mother admitted she did attend protests but was only in Bournemouth on Saturday to collect seashells with her elderly father.
'I have been to previous protests but this time I had decided to go into Bournemouth for the day with my elderly father to walk along the beach and pick some seashells,' she told Mail Online.
'I spent hours in the cells being laughed at and called a conspiracy theorist.'
One friend who fell out with her over her Covid conspiracy theories said: 'She's been into all kinds of conspiracy theories for quite a while but just became more paranoid when the pandemic started last year.
Covid conspirator Marcia Baker believes that the virus is no worse than getting the 'sniffles,' and is well known within the Bournemouth area for her opposition to the lockdown
The 50-year-old had attended an anti-lockdown protest in the town on Saturday before she was arrested for 'sitting on a park bench''She was going around telling everyone that coronavirus was no worse than getting the sniffles and that it was an attempt to control us all.
'I couldn't take it anymore and had to stop speaking to her. She doesn't believe the virus exists, it's absolutely insane the stuff she comes out with.'
Marcia works at the Black Pearl Tattoo studio in Bournemouth and is the mother of two daughters who are in their 20s.
Her friend added: 'If there's a demonstration against the lockdown, Marcia is there.
'Her views are very reckless but there's no debating with her because she's convinced that Covid is one big conspiracy.'
Footage, which has been shared widely online, shows three police officers surrounding Marcia in Bournemouth for allegedly leaving her house more than once in a day.The clip then shows her being handcuffed and led away by officers as she repeatedly tells them: 'I was sitting on a bench'.
But Dorset Police announced the video was 'planned, stage-managed and recorded' by members of an anti-lockdown protest group.
Dorset Police's Assistant Chief Constable Mark Callaghan said: 'We believe this video was planned, stage-managed and recorded by members of the protest group who turned up in multiple areas, several of whom refused to engage and provide their details.
'If people refuse to give their details in such circumstances then it leaves officers with little option but to arrest until the details are established.'
But Marcia disputed police claims that she stage-managed the incident which led to her arrest for apparently sitting on a bench at Bournemouth beach.
She said she had attended previous anti-lockdown protests but on this occasion had come into the seaside resort with her elderly father to walk along the beach, pick some seashells and have some coffee.
She claims she spent several hours in the cells where she was laughed at and called a 'conspiracy theorist'.
Ms Baker, a single mother, said: 'I'm annoyed at the police for saying it was stage-managed because that's not true.
Footage emerged showing three police officers surrounding a woman for allegedly leaving her house more than once in a day (left). Another four officers appear to arrest a different woman for what she claims was 'sitting on a bench' on the seafront in Bournemouth (right)
'I have been to previous protests but this time I had decided to go into Bournemouth for the day with my elderly father to walk along the beach and pick some seashells.
'We were sat on the bench for an hour drinking coffee and talking to a few people and then suddenly six coppers made a beeline for us.
'They asked me to leave and I picked up my bag but then they surrounded me to put the cuffs on me.
'I was just drinking a cup of coffee which I didn't think was a crime.
'I don't know the person who took the video. It was a random bystander. The police were arresting everyone.
'I spent hours in the cells being laughed at and called a conspiracy theorist.
'I asked what law I had broken and they wouldn't say. They just said I was contravening regulations.
'In the end they let me go without charge as long as I pay a fine. I don't know how much it is.'
The tattoo artist admitted she was against lockdown, adding: 'I didn't do anything wrong. It was horrible. I don't believe in lockdown because I'm a small business owner.
'My shop has been shut down twice because of it and I'm losing my livelihood.'
On her Facebook page, Marcia posted a statement from organisers of Saturday's demonstration which stated: 'Bournemouth Echo, we will be seeking legal advice after you suggested 'we staged' yesterday's events.
'It's clearly not because you and Dorset Police are scared of the comeback after your fascist officers went viral yesterday.
'You are spreading pure lies to cover your disgusting actions and total shambles of what you claim to be a 'Police force.' 'See you all in court.'
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