THE partner of the farmer cleared at court over the forcible removal of a car from his land said it ends, “eight months of hell.”

Karen Henderson was speaking outside Durham Crown Court after partner Robert Hooper was cleared of dangerous driving, the alternative of careless driving, and criminal damage.

The 57-year-old fourth-generation Teesdale farmer denied the charges arising from him using a loader fitted with fork rails to remove a Vauxhall Corsa parked on the drive way to his property, Brockersgill Farm, at Newbiggin-in-Teesdale, at 5.30pm, on Saturday June 5, last year.

Mr Hooper said he asked the Corsa driver and passenger to move it, but they claimed it had two deflated tyres and refused.

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The court heard that on hearing this, Mr Hooper said he would move it himself.

As he did so he came in for abuse from the owner, and his passenger, who struck him at least twice in the face through the cab window as he dumped the now damaged Corsa on the verge of the road outside his property.

During the trial Mr Hooper said he felt threatened by the Corsa driver and passenger and his heart was "racing".

His barrister said it was a case of: "An Englishman's home is his castle", and, in this case, he was defending his "castle".

Following more than four hours’ deliberation on the fourth day of the trial, the jury returned ‘not guilty’ verdicts, 20 minutes after being given a majority direction, by Judge Ray Singh.

As the judge discharged Mr Hooper from the dock and was thanking the jury for its efforts, there was drama after a fire alarm was accidentally triggered in the court.

It led to evacuation of the 210-year-old court building as a precaution.

As Mr Hopper emerged from court with Ms Henderson and his barrister, Michael Rawlinson, there were cheers from a group of assembled supporters from the Teesdale farming community.

They had answered a rallying cry by the Upper Teesdale Agricultural Support Services group to go to the court in support of Mr Hooper.

Mr Hooper did not answer waiting reporters’ questions, including if he would repeat his actions in similar circumstances, in future, but Ms Henderson read from a short hand-written statement.

It said: “Robert would like to thank his barrister, Michael Rawlinson, and his solicitor, Sarah Smith, for all their hard work and support throughout.

“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.”

Mr Hooper’s followers were delighted at the outcome of the case, hailing it as, “a victory for the dale.”

Fellow Teesdale farmer William Wearmouth, who described Mr Hooper as, “a great bloke”, said: “It’s totally and absolutely the right result.

“The whole dale is happy.”

He added that he hoped it, “sends a message” to people coming to the dales that they can’t park anywhere they choose.

Another of the farmers present, John Dickinson, who said he felt Mr Hooper's actions were, "acceptable, given the circumstances", added: "We have got the right result here, today."

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