A Worcestershire farmer stands accused of a public order offence after erecting a sign critical of the local community.
Carl Powell, 75, of Stone Arrow Farm, Peopleton, erected the sign on a 15-foot tall disused grain dryer after villagers objected to plans to install a new path on the 100 acre property. The application was subsequently refused by Worcestershire County Council.
The sign reads as follows: "Welcome to Peopleton; a murderous, lawless, godforsaken place; probably, most definitely, the nastiest village in Worcestershire."
Gosh. Strong stuff indeed. I think I've seen worse scrawled on the parish noticeboard.
If newspaper reports are to be believed, West Mercia Police has previously issued a penalty notice for disorder in relation to the sign, which Mr Powell has refused to pay.
The police have now decided to escalate matters by charging Mr Powell with an offence under section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986 - namely that he has displayed a sign that is threatening or abusive within the hearing or sight of a person likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress thereby.
We give a detailed account of this legislation in an earlier article. It's probably also worth mentioning that this will be a police led prosecution.
Mr Powell has been summoned to appear at Worcester Magistrates' Court on 1st July 2021.
Speaking to The Sun, he said: "They can drag me to court but I will fight my corner.
"I will plead not guilty. I won't remove the sign unless I'm forced to - it's fair speech.
"We're not living in Nazi Germany. I've done absolutely nothing wrong.
"It's like being in a police state."
Mr Powell, a man of previous good character, has also been instructed to attend the police station to provide his fingerprints and DNA prior to the court hearing. He has so far refused to do so.
As this could possibly go to trial we shan't comment any further, other than to quote something from our earlier article on section 5: "You do have to wonder about the merits of some cases coming before the court."
Update (3/10/21): Read the final gripping instalment in this case.
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