Revealed.... The Barrister being paid thousands of pounds by a local council to prosecute a man for feeding wildlife....
- teessidetoday
- Dec 19, 2024
- 3 min read
Hartlepool Borough Councils said to be facing mounting criticism over its decision to prosecute a Hartlepool Man for feeding wildlife, amidst concerns they're spending thousands on the appointment of an external lawyer to manage the case, despite supposedly having in house solicitors of their own...
19th December 2024
Hartlepool Borough Council's facing mounting criticism over its decision to prosecute a 76-year-old local man for feeding wildlife. The case has sparked outrage, as concerns are said to be growing over the council’s decision to hire an external solicitor to manage the case, despite supposedly having their own in-house legal team, costing taxpayers thousands of pounds.
Brian Wilkins, a retired Hartlepool resident, appeared at Teesside Magistrates’ Court this week following allegations he repeatedly breached a Community Protection Notice (CPN) issued against him by Hartlepool Borough Council last year. The council accuses Mr. Wilkins of persistently feeding birds and other wildlife, allegedly leading to increased vermin activity in the area.
Mr. Wilkins, who represented himself in court earlier this week, pleaded not guilty to the charges, with is case set to go to trial in April 2025, where, if convicted, he could face a criminal record and a substantial fine.
Why External Legal Support?
Adding fuel to the controversy is said to be the council’s decision to appoint external legal representation to handle the case. Critics argue this move undermines public confidence in the council’s own legal department, especially since it reportedly employs its own team of in-house solicitors that could have dealt with this case as effectively as hiring out an external solicitor...
The external lawyer, Sophie Johnstone, is said to be relatively new to litigation, having qualified as a solicitor only four years ago. Whilst her experience reportedly includes prosecuting serious crimes such as assaults, sexual offences, and racially aggravated incidents, many locals question the necessity of hiring an external lawyer for what many see as a trivial case.
Public Divided on Feeding Wildlife
The councils decision to prosecute Mr Wilkins is said to have divided opinion in Hartlepool, with some locals believing the council should work with Mr. Wilkins to ensure wildlife feeding occurs in a controlled and appropriate manner, away from high-traffic areas. Others argue the council’s heavy-handed approach demonstrates a lack of compassion and is part of a campaign against Mr Wilkins of Harassment which has occurred over a decade..
Wider Criticism of Council Spending
This case comes on the heels of further scrutiny over Hartlepool Borough Council’s spending practices.
Recent reports revealed that the council spent tens of thousands of pounds obtaining closure orders on four shops suspected of illegal activity, only for the business owners to reopen at new locations on the same street. This failure has left many residents branding the council’s actions as 'a laughing stock' and wilfully wasting public funds.
Weak & ineffective leadership claims
Calls for a shakeup of the council’s senior management are also said to be growing louder. Many locals have expressed frustration over what they perceive as weak 'ineffective' leadership and a disgraceful lack of accountability from the local council which was branded a council with no public confidence back in 2023. The council’s handling of high-profile cases has increasingly made it a target of public criticism & even ridicule, with some calling for heads to roll at the embattled organisation.
A Question of Priorities, or just Harassment against those the council sees as 'easy targets'...
As Hartlepool Borough Council continues to face challenges to its credibility, cases like that of Brian Wilkins are said to serve as a focal point for broader public dissatisfaction at the now disgraced local council. .
Residents are questioning whether their hard-earned council tax money really should be spent on the prosecution of an old man, when far more pressing cases need addressing, with many saying this is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of the persistent behaviour of Harassment the local council has taken against many locals, seeing them as 'easy targets', but in turn seeing public opinion of the local council being that of the operations of a dangerous extremist group..... A term now the councils struggling to shake off amidst increasing public frustration at the top heavy & visibly 'undemocratic' institution.
