Groom arrested on his wedding day in Darlington (From Darlington and Stockton Times)

Groom arrested on his wedding day in Darlington

5:27pm Wednesday 24th October 2012 in News By Chris Webber, Reporter (Stockton/Hartlepool)

A WOULD-BE groom was arrested during his own wedding service yesterday(TUESDAY OCTOBER 23).

Four UK Border Agency officers entered Darlington Register Office in Bull Wynd at about 1pm.

Minutes later they emerged with a suited man in his 20s who was taken away in the van.

An eyewitness, who did not wish to be named, said: “The fella they took was in a suit and he left quietly, there wasn’t a big fight or anything." 

A spokeswoman for Darlington Borough Council, which operates the Register Office, confirmed the incident.

She said: “An arrest was made, but it wasn’t a sham marriage. The groom is in custody.”

The declaration of the marriage was not made at Darlington Register Office, indicating the couple were from outside the town.

A UK Border Agency spokesman said: “We can confirm that an individual was arrested yesterday following a UK Border Agency-led operation that saw officers enter a registry office in Darlington, County Durham.

"The operation is part of an ongoing investigation to tackle suspected immigration crime. The individual is now being held in custody for further questioning."