Fundraiser to help farmer cover legal costs after telehandler incident
Date of alert:
Thursday 17 February 2022
Crime Ref:
Force:
Durham Constabulary
A fundraiser is seeking to help cover a farmer's legal costs who was found not guilty of two charges after he used his telehandler to remove a car on his driveway.
The widely-publicised incident took place on 5 June 2021, when Robert Hooper used his telehandler to remove a car parked on his farm's driveway, blocking his access.
The 57-year-old told Durham Crown Court earlier this month he felt 'frightened and threatened' when he took action, after requests to the occupants to move the car had failed.
Following a four day trial, on 4 February a jury found the Teesdale farmer not guilty of charges of dangerous driving and criminal damage.
The case attracted widespread press coverage locally, nationally and even internationally, and Mr Hooper expressed his gratitude for the "overwhelming support from the local community and people from afar which kept him going through the last eight months of hell."
However, the farmer has now been left with a substantial bill for expenses incurred as a result of the trial.
