That’s not a fair way! Golf club members are furious after police let off ‘lazy dog walker’ who cut down metal fence to keep taking dangerous short cut
- Mystery vandal cut the fence at Sturminster Marshall Golf Club in three places
- But Dorset Police declined to take further action after a suspect came forward
A golf club has criticised the police after a ‘lazy dog walker’ who caused thousands of pounds damage to their course in a right of way row was apparently let off scot-free.
Sturminster Marshall Golf Club has a public footpath that runs diagonally across its course, linking the pretty Dorset village with a field popular with dog walkers.
A wire fence was put up alongside the edge of the course to encourage people to stick to the designated footpath.
It also stopped them taking a short cut to the path across the second fairway and risk being hit by golf balls.
But their move upset a mystery vandal who cut the fence in three places so they could carry on using the short cut.
Police have let off a ‘lazy’ dog walker who cut through a wire fence in order to continue using a shortcut
The mystery vandal cut the fence on the grounds of Sturminster Marshall Golf Club, Dorset in three places to save himself time
Mike Dodds (pictured), a golf professional, criticised Dorset Police for not taking any further action and said the club should have received compensation for the incident
On police advice, the club installed a CCTV camera in the woodland to catch the suspected culprit
A public right of way runs through the golf club. The red lines incorrect routes taken by the dog walker by cutting a hole in the 240 yard fence
The middle-aged suspect caught on CCTV damaging the wire fencing. He was later identified and came forward but was let off by police who decided not to take the matter forward
The damage left the club with a hefty repair bill. Ground staff also laid branches and heavy logs in front of the gaps in the fence to protect it.
On the advice of the police, the club hid a camera in woodland near the par-4, 267 yard second hole to catch the culprit in the act.
Dorset Police subsequently released images of a middle-aged man who they wished to speak to in connection with the criminal damage.
The suspect came forward but Dorset Police said that after speaking with everyone involved, ‘no further action’ will be taken.
Mike Dodd, club pro at Sturminster Marshall, believes the fence was vandalised out of ‘laziness’ by someone who did not not want to walk an extra two minutes to cross the course at the designated spot.
He said he was ‘not happy’ that police were apparently not pursuing the matter and there had been no discussions about the club receiving compensation for the criminal damage.
The fence was installed by Dorset Council but the golf club has been funding its repairs as they did not want someone to be struck by a ball while crossing the course.
Mr Dodd said: ‘We have a right of way from one corner of the course to the other so people can cross it in the safest way to the dog walking space on the other side.
‘Down one side of the course there is fencing but we’ve had to keep fixing it as people keep cutting it to get a short cut.
‘They want to cut the corner and it saves them a couple of minutes.
‘It is laziness, they don’t want to walk the long way round with the dog.
‘Police suggested we install CCTV as it kept happening.
‘The reason the fence is there is to stop someone being hit by a golf ball as they cross the course.
‘We’ve even put branches and logs by the fence to protect it but the person has moved them out the way so they have gone to great lengths to do this.
‘Now, we’ve heard that police have spoken to the chap responsible and are taking no further action.
‘We are not happy about it and nobody has discussed compensation with us.
‘While the council put up the fence, we have paid for its repairs as we would be liable if someone crossed there and was injured by a golf ball.
‘The whole situation is unsatisfactory.’
Police investigated incidents which took place between July 17 and August 4 this year.
The public footpath runs diagonally across the course and links the village of Sturminster with a popular field with dog walkers
Sturminster Marshall Golf Club say that it has footed the bill to repair the wire fence, which was originally installed by the council to protect walkers from being hit by golf balls
A Dorset Police spokesperson said: ‘A man has been identified following a CCTV appeal in relation to reported criminal damage in Wimborne.
‘It was reported that between Monday 17 July 2023 and Friday 4 August 2023, a man repeatedly cut a wire fence to gain access to Sturminster Marshall Golf Course.
‘Following enquiries and a CCTV appeal, a man has now been identified.
‘An investigation was carried out and after speaking with everyone involved, no further police action will be taken.
‘We would like to thank everyone who shared our appeal.’
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