The Crown Prosecution Service has withdrawn the prosecution of a man who damaged the house made famous by ITV supersleuth DCI Vera Stanhope (aff. link).
The case against Tony Banks, 62, of Wooler, Northumberland, had been listed at Berwick-upon-Tweed Magistrates' Court on Thursday, 7th March 2024.
However, having reviewed the case prosecutor James Long decided it was no longer in the public interest to continue with the criminal damage prosecution.
Magistrates were told at an earlier hearing that Mr Banks and his partner Angela Cogan, 69, run an animal sanctuary in Wooler.
On Christmas Day, 25th December 2022, the couple took some of their more nervous dogs to Holy Island, where they hoped to find deserted beaches for them to exercise.
The couple had started the journey back towards the mainland when their car broke down, not far from Vera filming location Snook House.
They had no mobile phone and the tide was coming in, so the couple decided to make for higher ground before their vehicle was submerged.
As if things weren't bad enough, the weather took a turn for the worse and the couple got drenched.
Fearful that Ms Cogan was becoming hypothermic, ex-Army medic Mr Banks took the decision to break a window to gain access to Snook House.
Once inside he lit a fire and used a landline telephone to contact the police, report the incident and offer to pay for any damage caused.
The court heard that Mr Banks had paid £1,064 in compensation to the owner of Snook House. That being the case, the owner was content the matter had been settled.
Mr Long, addressing the court, said: "The public interest element of the CPS requirement is not now passed, the defendant having paid compensation of £1,064.
"On Christmas Day the defendant and his partner became stranded on Holy Island. They decided because of the inclement weather to break into a holiday let to seek refuge. They broke a window to get in and lit a fire."
He added: "The evidential test was passed but the compensation has been paid and the complainant is satisfied and the matter can be withdrawn."
Leaving the court, Mr Banks said: "It's a travesty of justice and I am totally disgusted."
The prosecution of Ms Cogan, who did not attend the hearing on health grounds, was also withdrawn.
I agree with the decision, but it seems to me there has been a lack of dialogue between the owner of Snook House and the CPS.
With a bit of joined up thinking this could have all been resolved administratively without requiring Mr Banks' attendance at court.
The law should not be used as a blunt tool to needlessly criminalise decent people trying to do the right thing.
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