Farmers Ferry man cleared of assault

06 October 1998

Farmers Ferry man cleared of assault

By FWi staff

THE transport manager of animal exporter Farmers Ferry has been cleared of assaulting two animal rights protestors.

Two charges of common assault at were dismissed after a hearing at Brighton magistrates court yesterday morning (Monday).

The charges related to an incident earlier this summer when about 50 protesters against live animal exports gathered outside Glenn Dudleys home in Hove, Sussex.

At the time, Mr Dudley was transport manager of Brindie Ltd, the company since bought by the Farmers Ferry consortium in an attempt to revive the live export trade.

Mr Dudley, who retained his job after the buy-out, claimed some of the protestors tore down his fence and threw stones, smashing a window in his house.

Mr Dudley said a Mercedes car parked in his driveway was also damaged.

The protesters claimed the protest was peaceful and within the law. But they said Mr Dudley had sprayed two protesters with water.

Mr Dudley pleaded not guilty to the charges. The case was dismissed after magistrates heard that regular animal rights protests had been held outside Mr Dudleys home since 1995.

Mr Dudley said he was only defending his property, but acknowledged that the two protesters were protesting peacefully.