‘V sign’ sculpture over garden fence earns restraining order
A SCULPTOR has been issued with a restraining order over a “V sign” statue positioned to point at his neighbours.
Baron Tremain, 54, allegedly attached the “two-fingered salute” artwork to the top of a pole to annoy farm secretary Lisa Woodcock and her accountant husband, Jason.
The sculpture was erected beside his wicker fence over a six-week period last year so it could be seen by the couple and their two children.
It has now landed Mr Tremain in court after the Woodcocks complained that it was an act of harassment.
At Norwich magistrates’ court, they alleged that metalwork sculptor Mr Tremain had also repeatedly hurled abuse at them and shone a torch into their windows at night.
The ill feeling between the neighbours started after Mr and Mrs Woodcock objected to him building a blacksmith’s workshop in the garden of his Flint Cottage home in the hamlet of Alby Hill, near Cromer, Norfolk, the court heard.
The Woodcocks said they finally complained to police after Mr Tremain allegedly ignored a civil injunction requiring him to stop harassing them.
Mr Tremain denied a charge of “harassment, unwanted conduct and offensive and threatening comments” to Mrs Woodcock, 42.
The charge was dismissed on Thursday after he agreed to a restraining order banning him from any contact with the Woodcocks, but he was warned he could be jailed if he broke the order. Prosecutor Paul Roach told the court: “The rather offensive sculpture was put on the boundary of the two properties. It could only be construed as the V sign or a two-fingered salute.”
Alastair Taunton, defending, insisted that Mr Tremain had not put up the sculpture up with the intent of causing offence but that his client accepted it “wasn’t the best idea”.
He added: “He wants to be the better man. He’s got no prior convictions. He and his partner have decided to put Flint Cottage up for sale.”
‘It could only be construed as the V sign or a twofingered salute’