Furious farmer who overturned car on his land with his forklift tractor tells court he did it in self-defence after driver's friend punched his glasses off his nose - as he denies dangerous driving and criminal damage

 A farmer who used his forklift tractor to flip and smash a car parked on his drive told a jury today he was innocent - because it was in self defence after thugs knocked his glasses off.

Robert Hooper, 57, drove at the Vauxhall Astra, lifted it up in the air and tipped it onto its roof before pushing it into a road in an incident which was captured on their

Despite the clip, shot by the vehicle's driver, showing Hooper's telehandler tractor leaving the car a smashed wreck he is pleading not guilty to dangerous driving and criminal damage.

Today Durham Crown Court heard he was under attack at the time of the incident from Charlie Burns, a friend of the driver Elliott Johnson, who was kicking the wheels of the tractor and trying to punch him in the cab.

The incident took place at 5.30pm on June 6 last year after Mr Burns and Mr Johnson had spent a hot summer's day swimming at Low Force near Barnard Castle, County Durham.

On their way home they passed by Hooper's Brockersgill Farm at Newbiggin-in-Teesdale, where Mr Johnson's Astra - a courtesy car belonging to Vauxhall Finance - suffered a double puncture.

Hooper's defence lawyer Michael Rawlinson told the court Burns was 'angry and drunk,' punched the farmer in the face with enough force to knock off his glasses, called him a nonce and told police he'd like to 'open him up.'

Mr Rawlinson revealed his client's case during cross examination of Burns, who had travelled to Teesdale with around  eight friends in two cars from South Shields, South Tyneside.

Farmer Robert Hooper, 57, has denied dangerous driving and criminal damage in court

It came after he used forklift tractor to flip and smash a car parked on his drive in Durham

He said that Hooper's partner, Miss Henderson, was the first person to ask them to move the car from the farm's lane, which they did, only to drive it back again shortly afterwards.

Mr Burns told police he'd had six or seven bottles of Corona lager throughout the day at Low Force, a waterfall near Newbiggin, and he was captured on video having another bottle while waiting for the police to arrive following the car being smashed.

Mr Rawlinson said: 'What actually happened is that Mr Hooper came down to the car in a green buggy and asked you to move the car and you told him to 'f*** off' didn't you?'

Mr Burns denied the suggestion.

Mr Rawlinson went on: 'You tried to pull the door open while he was sitting in there with his dog on his lap and punched him twice in the face, splitting his lip.

'It was only at that point when you were threatening him when you were drunk and being abusive on his land, blocking his access, not allowing him to get on with his work that he went to get the yellow tractor.'

Mr Rawlinson went on: 'He said again, nicely, 'please move the car' and you told him to 'f*** off' and were shouting 'come on.'

'You were gesturing and inviting him, taunting him, almost daring him to move the car.'

Mr Rawlinson put to Mr Burns that he then punched Hooper a second time.

Mr Hooper says it was self defence after aggression and violence from the car passenger

 

Mr Hooper is standing trial at Durham Crown Court for the whole of this week before a jury

He said: 'You did not just catch him with your finger, you punched him in the face with such force his glasses came off and he could not see.'

The witness again denied the accusation.

Mr Rawlinson claimed that Mr Burns went down Hooper's driveway three times shouting abuse and threats at him, telling him to come out.

The account is a far cry from what prosecutor David Ward said had ocurred.

He said Mr Burns and Johnson had been on the way home when they passed by the farm when their courtesy car suffered a double puncture.

Mr Ward said: 'With only one spare wheel they were unable to fix the problem.

'They decided to move the car into the farm driveway off the B6277 that passed the farm because it seemed the safest thing to do.

'It was a long driveway with an open field to one side, this they thought was the safest option.

'However Mr Hooper drove towards them in one of his vehicle and asked them to move the car.

'They said words to the effect that they would not be long and were arranging a recovery vehicle to move the car.

'Mr Hooper said he would move the car for them and went back to the farm and fixed loading equipment onto the front of his tractor, in effect a forklift device.

'He drove back and placed the lifting rails under the car and pushed the car along the driveway, already causing damage. Mr Burns filmed this on his mobile phone.

'Hopper began lifting the end of the car as Mr Burns kicked the farm vehicle to no avail.

'Hooper tipped the vehicle onto its roof and pushed it out of the driveway, around the corner and onto the road. It was scraped along the ground suffering extensive damage.

'Mr Burns tried to hit Mr Hooper through the window of the tractor, seemingly trying to distract him from further damaging the vehicle.'

At that point, Mr Ward said, Hooper swung the telehandler round and struck Mr Burns on the back with the lifting gear, sending him sprawling.

Mr Ward said that Hooper was arrested and interviewed by the police.

He told them he was trying to push the car when it caught on the gate and flipped over.

Mr ward said: 'He said he was acting lawfully and in self defence at all times. Mr Hooper is a man of good character with no previous convictions.'

The trial, expected to last the week, continues.