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Farmer, 83, cleared over shooting man on his land Farmer, 83, cleared over shooting man on his land
(about 1 hour later)
An 83-year-old farmer who shot a man on his farm has been cleared of inflicting grievous bodily harm. An 83-year-old farmer who shot a convicted burglar on his land has been cleared of inflicting grievous bodily harm.
Kenneth Hugill, of Mill House Farm, Wilberfoss, near York, shot Richard Stables injuring him in the foot on 13 November 2015. Kenneth Hugill, from Wilberfoss, near York, shot Richard Stables injuring him in the foot on 13 November 2015.
Mr Stables, 44, had claimed he had stumbled onto the farm accidentally and was not planning to steal diesel. Hull Crown Court heard Mr Hugill saw a car drive past his remote farmhouse at around 02:00 GMT which he thought "was up to no good".
Mr Hugill told Hull Crown Court he had been "petrified" and thought Mr Stables' car was going to kill him. Mr Stables, 44, had claimed he had stumbled onto the farm accidentally.
Read more about this and other stories from East YorkshireRead more about this and other stories from East Yorkshire
In evidence, he told the jury he had gone to bed with his wife at around 21:00 GMT, but was woken by a light at the window at around 02:00. The three-day trial was told how Mr Hugill was woken by a light at his bedroom window at around 02:00 before he got dressed and went outside, with his shotgun, to investigate.
He then got dressed, got his shotgun and went outside.
"I walked across what I thought was the front of a vehicle," he said."I walked across what I thought was the front of a vehicle," he said.
"It revved up loudly and drove towards me. It petrified me. I did not see any people. I heard nothing at all.""It revved up loudly and drove towards me. It petrified me. I did not see any people. I heard nothing at all."
Mr Hugill, who uses a walking stick and a hearing aid, said he had fired one shot at the side of the vehicle and another into the air.Mr Hugill, who uses a walking stick and a hearing aid, said he had fired one shot at the side of the vehicle and another into the air.
He had he said not intended to hurt anyone but merely intended to frighten them off.He had he said not intended to hurt anyone but merely intended to frighten them off.
The jury took 24 minutes to clear him.The jury took 24 minutes to clear him.
Speaking outside court, Mr Hugill said he was very pleased with the verdict. Speaking outside the court, Mr Hugill said: "I'm very, very pleased. We thought I shouldn't have been prosecuted right from the start, I didn't feel it was justified at the time.
"It's marvellous. We thought I shouldn't have been prosecuted right from the start, I didn't feel it was justified at the time.
"I pulled the trigger because I thought that car was going to kill me.""I pulled the trigger because I thought that car was going to kill me."
The Crown Prosecution Service has defended its decision to prosecute.
Chief Crown Prosecutor Gerry Wareham said: "We are satisfied that there was sufficient evidence to put the matter before a court and that it was in the public interest to do so."
The court had already heard that Mr Stables, from Bradford, claimed he was out hunting rabbits with a friend, who was driving.The court had already heard that Mr Stables, from Bradford, claimed he was out hunting rabbits with a friend, who was driving.
Mr Stables and the driver, Adrian Barron from Oldham, both have convictions for burglary and theft.Mr Stables and the driver, Adrian Barron from Oldham, both have convictions for burglary and theft.