Three offences were committed by the local magistrates against a landowner who had used razor wire and chain to prevent ramblers from using a footpath that was near her house.
Frances Payne (55) appeared on Channel 5’s The Nightmare Neighbour Next Door. She blocked the path next to a beauty spot close her Evesham, Worcestershire home.
One cat even got attacked by her dog in the furore that broke out earlier in the year. She blamed newcomers for ‘lacking common sense’ as well as ‘knowledge about the country’.
Frances Payne, 55, who used razor wire and chains to stop ramblers using a public footpath near her home has been convicted of three offences by local magistrates
According to the landowner, she claims that walkers have repeatedly attacked her and threatened her with physical attacks. Pictured: A closed footpath
She claimed she was trying to stop vandalism, but she received a series of community protection notices that prevented her from blocking the public footpath.
Kidderminster Magistrates upheld three of her complaints, but found her not guilty for wilfully blocking the highway or violating six community protection warnings.
The two agreed that she failed to obey a community notice and had blocked the footpath by erecting a lock gate on June 13.
On June 20, she was found guilty of carrying a sign that threatened to harass, alarm, or distress others and for causing unneeded suffering to protected animals.
She was unable to save a cat being attacked by her dog on May 14.
The footpath that ran beside Hampton Hill’s Worcestershire home was blocked by her with chains, barbed wire, and “keep out” notices.
The footpath runs close to Mrs Payne’s home at Evesham, Worcestershire
An interim Criminal Behaviour Order was issued by magistrates to her. It prohibits her abuse or aggression towards any person using Hampton Mill’s footpath.
This order forbids her also from blocking the path and imposes a duty on her to clear any obstacles.
Mrs. Payne stated that the issue was caused by a housing project.
“It’s a very new building and it feels like a small town.” People who reside there come from many different areas.
‘I’ve noticed quite some accents coming from Birmingham, Wolverhampton. However, I doubt they have had much exposure to farmland or the countryside. It is becoming a major problem.
Mrs Payne said that the footpath was used ‘innocently’ by’very few’.
“Years back people would have come here to learn about this land and the people who live there. It would make them feel good and it would not be a problem for us.
Among her allegations were littering and people riding bikes and motorbikes. She also claimed that they were climbing over fences.
The woman claimed that the pony she was referring to had been shot by an air rifle. She also said that failing to take action would have resulted in her losing her flock of sheep, who might be allowed to escape via a gate open to them by ramblers.
However, locals claim that she is aggressive in her behavior and lies to justify it.
View of the barbed wire along Mrs Payne’s Evesham Footpath.
The fence that blocked the Evesham footpath at Hampton Mill was covered with notices
An indication on the gate leading to the footpath stated that it was temporarily closed for surface damage.
One poster posted: ‘Here’s the latest in the Frances Payne fiasco. It will take me time to see how she responds to these lies. Her attempts to justify her behavior by laying more lies may one day catch her.
Mrs Payne claims she feels protected towards her property since it’s where she grew-up.
It is mine land. While it may be illegal to block a footpath or attack someone, I’m not surprised.
Pictured: Hampton Mill, which is nestled beside the blocked footpath in Evesham
The footpath runs close to Ms Payne’s home in Evesham, Worcesterhire
“It’s also against the law to encourage people, and create a mob culture.
“As 55-year old woman, I am responsible for my own safety as well the safety of those around me.
“It is becoming far too toxic, and it has become a threat to my health. I am entitled to protect myself and my safety. I feel like I can’t make a decision.
However, the Magistrates disagreed with her and decided to allow the public to continue to use the footpath that runs near her four-bedroom home.
Mrs. Payne was absent from the courtroom for the hearing and will be sentenced February 1, next year.