Two men were cuffed on Saturday for allegedly "harassing" Dave the dolphin - a lone cetacean who's been wowing the crowds at Sandgate in Folkstone since taking up residence in Kent waters a year ago.

According to Reuters, officers arrested the pair, aged 25 and 26, following "numerous emergency calls from the public" that they were giving Dave some stick. Poor old Dave has apparently already been the subject of "unwelcome attention from jet skiers and sailors", and Kent Police's Maritime Unit has issued a stern warning that ne'er-do-wells face fines or even chokey if they don't lay off.

Kent Police Inspector Gavin Roy said people "should not try to touch the animal or get within 100 yards of it". He added: "Dolphins are well-loved and friendly toward humans. They are protected by law and should be treated with respect."

Quite what form the latest harassment took is not noted, but, this being Kent, we suspect it involved the perps sporting crop-sleeve t-shirts and shouting "oi, you looking at my bird?" and "did you spill my pint, you bottle-nosed c**t?" ®

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