Farmer to go on trial for ‘lawless’ village sign

AN angry farmer who put up a huge sign branding his village the nastiest in the county will go on trial after he refused to remove it.

Carl Powell, 75, erected the billboard describing the village of Peopleton in Worcestershire as a “murderous, lawless and godforsaken place”.

He was slapped with a £90 fine earlier this year but refused to pay up and was hauled to court charged with a public order offence.

The court heard he caused “harassment, alarm or distress” to the 640 residents of Peopleton between February 16 and 24 this year.

Powell arrived at Worcester Magistrates’ Court on Thursday holding a smaller copy of the original sign along with another claiming his gates had been vandalised.

Representing himself, he told JPs the signs were “evidence”, claiming he was exercising his “right to freedom of speech”.

One sign read: “Welcome to Peopleton, a murderous lawless godforsaken place probably, most definitely the nastiest village in Worcestershire.”

The other contained reference to field gates being taken off their hinges on October 24, 2018 to “let stock onto the highway”.

The sign mentions a reward of £3,000 for information and a crime number.

He was barred from taking the signs into the courtroom by a security guard.

Powell told JPs: “He said it was an offensive weapon. An offensive weapon – a sign?

“My defence is that the sign is true and factual – and I can prove that.”

Advised to see a solicitor, Powell declined and replied: “All I need to do is tell the truth.

“I don’t need a solicitor to do that.”

The court heard Powell displayed the sign on an old grain dryer at his Stone Arrow Farm “with the intent to cause harassment, alarm or distress to the residents of Peopleton”.

Mark Hambling, prosecuting, said: “The sign was displayed 15ft off the ground.

“It was visible to road users and the gentleman was issued with a fixed penalty notice for a section 5 (public order) offence.

“I’m led to believe the gentleman did not pay the fine related to that and appears before you today charged with this matter.

“The Crown will say that the matter is suitable for summary trial.”

Powell told JPs: “This is utterly ridiculous.

“All this over a sign.”

The case was adjourned until his trial next month.

Powell was granted unconditional bail.