Man Cleared Of Kicking Bucket

A Polish man has finally cleared his name after an 18-month legal battle in which he was accused of kicking his neighbour's bucket. Legal sources blasted the decision to prosecute Waldemar Wilk, 55, of Mikowice, for damaging a plastic bucket worth less than �3. Neighbour Alicja Tomankiewicz had claimed that Mr Wilk had kicked the bucket so hard it landed on a bush outside their block of flats. The case was referred to a municipal court, where he pleaded not guilty, claiming that Mrs Tomankiewicz was still using the allegedly damaged bucket. He even presented video evidence - taken on his mobile phone - in court. The court called a video expert, who testified that it was impossible to date the mobile phone footage which could have been taken before Mr Wilk kicked the bucket. Legal wrangling held up the case and in April, Mr Wilk demanded an expert carry out an experiment to see whether a kick could damage a plastic bucket. Despite being found guilty after the expert's evidence proved it could have been damaged with a kick, he launched an appeal. This week, much to Mr Wilk's relief, his campaign for justice finally ended after a district court in Opole dropped the case. "It should never have even begun," said the judge.