Earlier this month tenant farmer David House was fined for an assault on an Environment Agency officer that took place last year.

House struck the officer as he tried to take photos at French’s Farm, near Poole in August 2015. Officers were at the farm to check whether House had complied with a formal notice to remove illegal waste from the area, after a previous visit had revealed the farm was being used for illegal dumping of commercial and domestic waste.

During the visit, House obstructed all 3 officers before trying to knock a camera out the hand of an officer as he tried to take photos of the waste – an act of aggression that cost him more than £400 when he appeared before Bournemouth magistrates on 8th December.

House was charged with offences under the Environment Act 1995 (Section 110) and the Criminal Justice Act 1988 (Section 39) including obstruction and assault by beating. The case was taken by the Crown Prosecution Service. House was arrested after he failed to attend a court hearing in March 2016.

Initially he denied the 2 offences, but changed his plea to guilty after seeking legal advice. The tenant farmer’s solicitor said his client accepted the Environment Agency officers had a right to be on his site and were exercising a lawful power of entry.

Commenting on the case on Friday (16th December) A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said, “We will not tolerate the use of violence against our officers while they are carrying out their lawful duties. House was fined £100 for each offence plus £165 costs and ordered to pay £50 compensation.”