Terrified by shouting, angry farmer .. what to do next?

paddy's_mum

Ive often said that when you're too close to a problem, you can't see the obvious answer so now it's my turn to ask what others would do.

First off, please google TF4926 and look at the photograph entitled 'Cowpats everywhere'. The events I want to describe took place in terrain virtually identical to that shown in the picture.

I've recently begun walking the Macmillan Way, both for my own fitness but also to raise a little bit of money for the charity. Today, my walk passed along an area of sea bank that had beef cattle beside it, just like the picture above. Two or three young steers were grazing actually on the footpath. They were slow to realise my two dogs and I were there but once they did notice us, they skittered down off the bank to join the rest of the peacefully grazing herd on the riverside terrace.

Two hundred yards further along the path, I was suddenly confronted by one large, hostile and angry farmer who, while shouting that he was entitled to shoot my dogs for chasing his cattle (emphatically, they were not - they were off lead and under close control) was blocking the path and generally behaving in an aggressive manner. I pulled out my mobile phone and asked him to drop the aggression or I would call the Police. He finally stood aside and let me pass before shouting that "if I catch you up here (a clearly marked and well used public footpath!) again, I'll shoot your dogs, and they'll have to carry you out an' all".

To say that I was upset is an understatement. I found his behaviour threatening and very frightening. Hubby's comment is that the farmer is a brave man to tackle a lone, grey haired woman, putting the fear of God into her. I've been in tears this afternoon and feel so tempted to make a formal complaint to the Police about his threatening behaviour.

Am I over-reacting simply because I've been badly frightened or should this man have it pointed out to him by the Police that confronting lone women on a footpath is not the way to go on, despite his concerns for his livestock? Until he got close enough for me to hear what he was yelling about, I had no idea of his intentions. He could have been moving in to attack me, for all I knew.

What do others think, please?

Courgette

That's awful, hope you've got someone making you lots of tea this evening. I would report it without a doubt, no one has the right to intimidate anyone like that

Take care

Courgette

Although looking at the pic it is possible that he was concerned the dogs would scare the cattle if they were that close. Still, it does not excuse threatening you and I would still report him just to let him know it's not okay to treat people like that if nothing else xxx

puddy

no i think its awful and you should report him, hope you feel better soon, have some cake

lynzpower

You should definately report him!!

What if the dogs HAD have scared the cattle? Would you have sactually been shot?

I would also report this to the local authority too, if this is a legit footpath then they will need to know. ( I think LAs maange footpaths) Maybe a quiet word to let him know what his responsibilities are in temrs of right of way.

Would you have felt like walking away with being threatened with a firearm if you were in a more "urban" location - or do people who live in the countryside think its thier right to wave guns around.

floss2

I would speak to the local beat Officer at the Police station - they should go out & speak to him, especially if they have had any other complaints / comments.

We had a similar episode in August - only ours was a large dog wanting to jump over a 4 foot fence to chase us off a public footpath that ran along side his garden. The beat officer knew the house & knew the dog, so went round & had a friendly chat with the owners.

floss2

lynzpower wrote: »

....I would also report this to the local authority too, if this is a legit footpath then they will need to know. ( I think LAs maange footpaths)

Yes, they do - look on your County website for more info.....they will probably see this as a threat to block the path which they can take as far as court if necessary.

LondonDiva

Appreciate you were upset & it sounds like it was an unpleasant encounter, but as a born and bred townie, the thing that came to my mind was the 'Countryside code'. http://www.countrysideaccess.gov.uk/things_to_know/countryside_code/keep_dogs_under_close_control

I googled it & it does still exist & my remembrance from what was drummed into us from primary was that dogs should be on leads when near all animals when walking across fields etc. You may have been one in a very long line of walkers.

Yes report him, but still note that however innocuous, your dog disturbed his animals and he was not to know just how well controlled your dog was - all he saw was that it was off the lead and his animals reacted.

squidge60

What a horrible thing,i feel for you last time someone was very aggressive/angry/lost the plot with me was a postman !! Some of why you proberly feel like you do is the shock of it .I think you should report him i remember how i felt .Hope you feel better soon x

dizzybuff

He has commited a crime under Sec 4A of the Public order act , this is intentional harrassment where he harassed intimidated you and put you in fear.

What ever area you are from go on the force website , there should be a link for neighbourhood policing , email the local Neighbourhood policing team , explaining what has happened , leave contact details and someone (if they are on the ball with the policing pledge ) should be back to you within 24 hours.. Pm me if you need me to find the local NPT website , but I'll need the force area

K xx

sdooley

The dogs were off lead and scared the cattle so they ran off. Cattle are this man's livelihood and if they miscarried as a result he'd have lost income. Now maybe cattle are a bit sturdier than sheep but they do miscarry from dogs worrying them too. The farmer would have been perfectly entitled to shoot your dogs without warning. Your view is the dogs were under control - the law's view is that they have to be on a lead where livestock are about.

That said, it's completely unacceptable to threaten you personally. The idea that a landowner can threaten to shoot a person on a public footpath is outrageous. If you had an independent witness at the time, he would probably now be looking at a prison sentence, and quite right too. As it is it's your word against his.