Posted on 02/04/2022 8:21:22 PM PST by nickcarraway
A FARMER who flipped a car off his land with a forklift has been cleared after arguing he was "defending" his castle.
Robert Hooper, 57, was captured using the machine to launch the £16,000 Vauxhall Corsa at his farm in Newbiggin-in-Teesdale, County Durham.
Passenger Charlie Burns, 21, who had downed up to seven bottles of beer, was knocked to the ground by the tractor's lifting forks.
But Hooper insisted: "I felt threatened and an Englishman's home is his castle, and my castle starts at that front gate."
The hill farmer has now been cleared of dangerous driving and criminal damage.
Supporters outside Durham Crown Court cheered as the verdict was handed down following a four-day trial.
Jurors had heard how Hooper was aware of an "influx" of youths littering and taking drugs during the summer of last year.
That June, Hooper had a busy day baling silage and had gone back to the farm for his tea before planning to pop out again to carry on working.
Burns meanwhile had been boozing with pals at a local beauty spot and claimed he was intending to walk the 52 miles back home.
He said he then came across his friend Elliott Johnson, whose Corsa had suffered a double puncture meaning they were parked in the farmer's lane.
Hooper told the court he politely asked them to leave as they were blocking access but was punched by Burns - splitting his lip.
He added: "I thought it was time to get out of there, and I said 'If you don't move it, I will'.
"My mind was racing.
"I thought 'We have a bit of a problem here, there's two of them, half my age'. I didn't know what they had in terms of weapons, or what they were capable of doing.
"I thought if the car was off the property, that would be them off the property, out of the way."
His lawyer said Hooper, who had no previous convictions, acted "utterly irrationally" that day.
Speaking after the verdict, partner Kate Henderson said: "The overwhelming support of the local community and people from afar have kept him going during these last eight months of hell.
"We welcome the jury's verdict and are thankful for it."
Florida Man evidently comes in British form. Who knew? You cannot stop him, you can only hope to contain him.
Yes, thats Englands version of the “Castle Doctrine”. Whatever works.
I imagine the doctrine originated there.
“His lawyer said Hooper, who had no previous convictions, acted “utterly irrationally” that day.”
What a useless lawyer. That’s darn close to an insanity plea. I’m glad it worked, but he was perfectly sane and fed up with the louts on his property and the law being useless to deal with them. That’s perfectly reasonable and sane behavior. Good for him. Boooo to his lawyer.
Passenger Charlie Burns, he of the 7 beers, lost the case the moment he chose to punch the property owner for asking these men to move because they were blocking access to his property.
Just removing some compost.
It’s an assault forklift! Probably Russian.
If they were imperial pints, that's getting close to two six packs.
good for him!
but it is still regrettable that a simple call to the sheriff couldn’t have solved the trespass problem forthwith?
Kudos to him!
not elderberries again.
Queue Jerry: “That’s a ... shame.”
Oh, so there’s nothing “Lite” about Imperial Brand beer.
Some beers will not compromise. You drink it, your whole body will know about it rather quickly.
I’m no Psychic, but I don’t think those Shoesalesmen are looking at shoes, not from any position!
The lawyer is not just “useless” but part of the problem,
as well as being an @$$.
Yes, I believe they are from Newbiggun-in-Teesdale.
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