Opera singing busker Tobias Strongman threatened with arrest after Lymington High Street market stallholders complain he is ‘too loud’

A young opera singing busker claimed he was threatened with arrest in Lymington’s High Street after complaints from market traders he was too loud.

Tobias Strongman (21) had been halfway through a song when the uniformed officer marched up and told him to stop.

He told the A&T: “It was quite a shock, he didn’t even let me finish the song.

“The policeman said he could hear me singing from the police station, but I would be surprised if he did.

“He said if I didn’t stop he would arrest me for breach of the peace.”

The incident came after Tobias was warned that several Saturday market traders had complained to the council and the police about him.

He said: “I love singing in the town, normally outside the post office. I get a big crowd, me, and people tell me they love to hear me.

“But recently I have had just one or two stallholders come up and shout in my face to go away, or turn the music down.

“If they ask me to turn it down, I do immediately.”

Tobias, from Southbourne, packed up his equipment and left after the incident last Thursday but posted about it on social media – receiving over 400 comments from fans outraged at his treatment.

Apologising for causing any upset Tobias said: “My passion is to sing and bring joy to people.”

Writing about his threatened arrest, which was live streamed to about 200 people, Tobias asked those who support him to contact the council and the police so he could return to the town.

Angry comments from Lymington residents flooded in with one saying: “I have no idea what is going through the minds of people who have reported you, nor can I believe the police feel this is a good use of their time and to make threats of arrest is absolutely ludicrous!”

One, who said they were an emergency worker, commented: “What a complete waste of precious police resources. Is this really in the public interest to fine or prosecute.”

Another resident added: “The police surprise me. They aren't available for thefts in the high street you just get a crime number but they'll take the time to arrest a busker.”

Along with the support Tobias, who occasionally performs with his brother Sam, was also flooded with invitations to sing in shops and restaurants along High Street.

He has also been offered appearances at several local festivals.

Tobias said: “The response has been overwhelming. I am so grateful to everyone. It is so nice to know that people want me to come back and perform in the town.

“I am hoping to once things have been sorted out, but I don’t want to be arrested obviously.”

A market trader told the A&T that a petition asking for Tobias to be banned from the market had been created by some stallholders saying: “He has an amazing voice and is a really nice guy, but he is too loud.

“When he has been asked to be quieter, he refuses. The other thing is that he is normally here for around four hours with the songs on a loop so it drives you mad after a while.

“He also stops people from getting to some stalls because they can’t get through the crowd around him.”

Responding to Tobias’s post Lymington mayor Jack Davies said: “We are more than happy for you to busk in Lymington as you are aware. You’re clearly very talented but the issue is the level of noise which is impacting on market traders.

“You have simply been asked to turn the volume down but you refused to do so. The council are happy to work with you to support you in your busking, but you need to work with us also.”

But Tobias said Mr Davies’ claim he refused to turn the music down was “not true” adding: “If I am asked to do that I always do. I don’t want to upset anyone.”

A spokesperson for Lymington town council said: “The town council welcome buskers in Lymington that abide by the New Forest District Council buskers code of conduct. We are very fortunate to have a number of buskers that play in the town on a regular basis that are enjoyed by visitors to the town and the market traders.

“Unfortunately, the pair of singers in question have chosen not to follow the code and have been performing at such a volume that our market traders cannot hear their customers on their stalls.

“Town council officers recently met with one of the pair and have said that they are very welcome in the town if they can abide by the code of conduct and reduce their volume to level that allows market stalls to be able to carry on their trade.”

Additional reporting by Dan Goater

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