St Lawrence: Farmer thanks our rural engagement officers
Date of alert:
Tuesday, 8 March 2022
Crime Ref:
Force:
Essex Police
A farmer has thanked our rural engagement officers for their support after a man was fined for damaging his crops.
“It’s good to know we’ve been able to get a conviction. Farmers have their crops damaged regularly by hare coursers and other people who think it’s fun to drive across our fields.”
Simon Cowell, who farms in St Lawrence
At Colchester Magistrates’ Court on 24 February, Simon Milton, 33, of Maple Way, Burnham on Crouch, was ordered to pay a total of £387, including fines and £128 compensation to Mr Cowell, and had six points put on his driving licence.
He had admitted criminal damage, failing to stop for police officers and driving without due care and attention following an incident on Mr Cowell’s farm on 2 October last year.
Officers from our Rural Engagement Team had received reports that a 4x4 vehicle was being driven off-road in St Lawrence and had caused damage to farmland.
They attended but Milton failed to stop. However, the vehicle was picked up on ANPR cameras later that day and Milton was arrested near Pitsea by the same rural engagement officers after a short pursuit.
