A Dengie farmer has spoken of the "pride" he takes in his farm, after a man from Burnham was fined for damaging his crops.

Simon Milton, of Maple Way in Burnham, was ordered to pay £387 including fines and £128 compensation to St Lawrence farmer Simon Cowell at Colchester Magistrates' Court on 24 February.

The 33-year-old had admitted criminal damage, failing to stop for police officers and driving without due care and attention following an incident on Mr Cowell's farm on 2 October last year.

He also had six points put on his driving licence.

Mr Cowell has now said he is "pleased with the court result because it's a deterrent and the more people who are caught, the better".

He said: "It's good to know we've been able to get a conviction.

"Farmers have their crops damaged regularly by hare coursers and other people who think it's fun to drive across our fields."

Officers from the rural engagement team at Essex Police had received reports that a 4x4 vehicle was being driven off-road in St Lawrence, next to the River Blackwater, and causing damage to farmland on 2 October.

They attended but Mr Milton failed to stop.

He was arrested near Pitsea by the same officers following a short pursuit later that day, after his vehicle was picked up on ANPR cameras.

Mr Cowell said: "It's great that the officers were able to cut this driver off and get close enough to identify his vehicle.

"I saw the vehicle spinning round and round on my land and I was going across on my quadbike to have a look when I saw blue lights approach from the direction of the road.

"The police vehicle stayed on the side of the field, so the officers didn't damage the crops."

He added: "As farmers, we take pride in our farms and it's quite upsetting when someone has so little respect for your property.

"They think they can just make a mess and abuse it but it's as if someone comes along and sprays graffiti on the front of your house. We take it personally and it's very dispiriting."

Mr Milton caused damage to a crop of lucerne, which is used for animal feed.

PC Clare Dawson, a rural engagement officer involved in the case, said: "This is a great result from the courts. It shows that we don't tolerate criminal damage and that people do pay for this type of crime.

"This type of incident has a huge impact on farmers. It affects their land and their crop yields, which all costs money and time to fix.

"The rural engagement team was set up to engage specifically with our rural communities and we investigate and help to prevent crimes which matter to them."

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