Farmer cleared by jury after using forklift tractor to flip car off his land

A farmer has been cleared by a jury after he defended his home and property by flipping a car off his land.

Fourth-generation hill farmer Robert Hooper argued during his four-day trial that an Englishman’s home is his castle and claimed he had been assaulted before he used a tractor to shift the Vauxhall Corsa from a lane outside his farm.

Outside Durham Crown Court, Teesdale farmers had gathered to support Mr Hooper, 57, and they cheered as he was cleared of dangerous driving and criminal damage.

‘Eight months of hell’

His partner, Kate Hudson, told supporters: “The overwhelming support of the local community and people from afar have kept him going during these last eight months of hell.

She said: “We welcome the jury’s verdict and are thankful for it.”

Videos played during the trial showed how Mr Hooper used a telehandler with forks to lift the £16,000 car and push it on its side on the road outside.

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Shirtless passenger Charlie Burns, 21, who had been visiting the area that day and had drunk up to seven bottles of lager, was knocked to the ground by the vehicle’s lifting forks.

Mr Burns had been drinking with friends at Low Force waterfall and was intending to walk 52 miles back to South Tyneside.

He told the jury he then spotted his friend, Elliott Johnson, whose Corsa had suffered a double puncture which is why they parked in the farmer’s lane.

Mr Hooper told the jury he had been punched twice by Mr Burns, splitting his lip, when he had politely asked him and the driver to leave as they were blocking access during a busy day on the farm.

He said: “I felt threatened and an Englishman’s home is his castle, and my castle starts at that front gate.”

In his closing remarks, David Ward, prosecuting, told the jury the Crown was not saying that Mr Hooper was a “thug”, but that his actions were “utterly irrational” that day.

However, Michael Rawlinson, defending, quoted boxer Mike Tyson, saying: “Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.”

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