A landowner who blocked the footpath near her home claims her car windows were smashed after her arrest

A landowner who used barbed wire and chains to stop hikers using a footpath that passed her home has accused police of “taking sides” after she was arrested on a public order offence.

Frances Payne, 57, has been held down by five police officers as she feeds her sheep on land next to her mill house near Evesham, Worcestershire – after she was accused of failing to attend two interviews related to a complaint from her neighbour.

To embarrass them even more, West Mercia Police had brought the local newspaper to witness the event.

But Ms Payne, who rose to prominence for blocking access to the footpath for walkers near a beauty spot during the Covid pandemic, called it a “facility”.

She said: “I can show that I attended both of the interviews in question at the police station. Once the station was closed and I called 101 to prove I was there and the second time the officer in charge wasn’t there and a colleague said he would confirm my attendance.

Frances Payne, 57, has accused police of “taking sides” after being arrested for a public order offence

Ms Payne said she woke up to find her car’s rear windscreen smashed

“It’s nothing short of a lineup. Whatever the reason, the police ignore all my complaints, but as soon as someone says something about me, they take action.”

Ms Payne, who has lived in Hampton Mill, a family home at the end of a narrow country lane, since she was a child, says she was attacked on social media by residents of a nearby development.

She and neighbors clashed during the Covid lockdowns as there was a massive increase in the number of people using the footpath that runs through the garden of their home.

She was accused of using barbed wire and threatening messages to keep people away.

And last February, she received a five-year criminal conduct order after being found guilty in absentia of three offenses, including causing needless suffering to a protected animal.

The latter offense stemmed from her failure to intervene when her dog charged at a local cat.

Ms Payne has always claimed she had permission to close the footpath to make repairs to the bumpy lane leading to her home and accused locals of goading and filming her for Facebook.

And she was furious that during her latest arrest last week, police were photographed climbing over the gate leading to her home and preventing her sheep from escaping.

The fenced off path that runs between Mrs Payne’s home on Hampton Hill in Evesham, Worcestershire and a popular beauty spot

The 57-year-old landowner on Channel 5’s The Nightmare Neighbor Next Door

Pictured: Hampton Mill which sits next to the blocked footpath in Evesham

“This gate is always closed, but not locked,” she said. “I know better than anyone not to lock that gate without permission, and the police scaling an unlocked gate says it all.”

A West Mercia Police spokesman said officers were not so stupid as to be unable to open a gate.

In an official statement, the force said: “On Tuesday 28 March officers (sic) executed an arrest warrant at Cornmill Road, Evesham.

“A 57-year-old woman has been arrested in connection with a public order offence. She has since been released on bail.

“An investigation is ongoing so it would not be appropriate to make any further comments at this time but we will do so when we are able.”

A local, who asked not to be named, said: “It seemed to me that she was on guard again. All I want is the right to walk freely without fear or obstacles on a public path. I agree that the police are taking action.”

However, Ms Payne said her arrest relates to an altercation with an intruder in January.

Ms Payne put up signs and notices saying “Do Nothing” stating the footpath was closed

One of the signs said the footpath was “temporarily closed due to surface damage.”

Another look at some of the warnings for hikers who have strayed onto the footpath near their land

She also blocked the footpath by laying barbed wire, seen here next to the fence

A padlock on the side of the gate near her home in Hampton Mill, where she has lived since childhood

She said; “The woman who filed the complaint is like a serial stalker. She won’t leave me alone and constantly leaves the sidewalk onto my and foreign land.

“I have complained to the police about their behavior but they are doing nothing.

“Last night I got home around 9am to find the lane blocked by a boulder that was placed there on purpose to force me out of my car. It was very annoying. I called the police but they said they wouldn’t send anyone out.

“I had to leave my car and walk through the darkness. I knew someone was there in the dark, so I had to shout threats to scare off anyone in the dark. I know someone was there because I heard the gate click.

“This morning I found out that someone had attacked my car and smashed the rear windshield. Again I reported it to the police but nothing happened.’

Last year, Ms Payne was charged with violating the Criminal Behavior Order and three counts of assault by beating. She denies the allegations and a court hearing is scheduled for later this month.

Source: | This article originally belongs to Dailymail.co.uk