A COUPLE’S romantic night in was ruined when police burst in and arrested the husband for pinching a four-pack of booze – only to find out they had got the wrong man.

Ashley Bathe had gone to Tesco Express, in Freshbrook, on Saturday to pick up a microwave curry and a bottle of wine to share with his heavily pregnant wife Rachel, who is due to have their second daughter this weekend.

After meeting a friend and dropping him off at work, the 29-year-old returned home and moments later found around six police officers swarming through his front door.

Following a search of his Freshbrook home and car, they arrested Mr Bathe.

But before they could reach the police station, the officers turned back after being told of the mistake over the radio.

Two men, aged 21 and 23, were later arrested on suspicion of stealing a four-pack of Stella Artois lager and some food.

“My wife was so stressed out I thought she was going to go into labour,” Mr Bathe said.

“We were planning to have a last night of peace and quiet before the baby comes but the police and Tesco well and truly ruined that.

“Our two-year-old was staying with her grandma and my wife said she fancied a curry because that could bring on labour, so I drove over there to get one.

“I saw an old friend and we talked while I paid for my bag of two curries, two bottles of red wine and two galaxy chocolate bars and I offered to give him a lift to work.

“Around 20 minutes after I get home four police cars turn up outside my house and as I answered the door they barged past me, asking ‘who’s just gone out the back door?’ and ‘who’s upstairs?’ “At no point did they say what they wanted me for.

“They then had a look at the car and I said I would open it if they wanted to have a look as I had nothing to hide.

“The bags were all packed ready to go to the hospital and so they were pulling out the nappies and baby clothes.”

The officers then arrested Mr Bathe, who matched the description given by Tesco staff, and put him in the back of the police car, but three miles into the journey turned around.

He said: “The officer turned to me and said ‘you may realise we are heading back to your place’, that the Tesco manager may have made a mistake and the person they wanted was sat outside the shop.

“They raced back to mine at 80mph with the blues and twos on.

“About 20 minutes later they rang up to apologise but I’m still in shock. There were a lot police just for shoplifting.

“I haven’t spoken to the neighbours yet – I’m too embarrassed. I have no idea what they thought was going on.”

A spokesman for Wiltshire Police said: “We apologise for any inconvenience and distress caused.”

A Tesco spokesman said : “As this is an ongoing police matter it would be inappropriate for us to offer any comment at the moment.”