Police apologise to disabled 63-year-old after making ‘ludicrous’ claim that he had broken virus lockdown rules by allowing friend to mow his lawn
- Adrian Rimington, 63, from Chesterfield, denied breaking lockdown rules
- Mr Rimington said his friend reached through the window to plug the mower in
- Police apologised to Mr Rimington and his neighbour for the ‘misunderstanding’
Police have issued an apology to a disabled man after berating him for allowing a friend to cut his lawn – an act of kindness he has performed for 15 years.
Just eight days after the Prime Minister announced strict lockdown rules police officers knocked on Adrian Rimington’s door to accuse him of breaking the rules.
They said he had allowed a neighbour into his home on March 31, to plug in the lawnmower.
But the 63-year-old, from Chesterfield, Derbyshire, denied the claim, saying his friend reached in through an open window to plug it in.
Adrian Rimington, 63, denied police accusation that he broke lockdown rules when his friend mowed his lawn. Derbyshire police have now issued an apology to Mr Rimington and his friend
He said: ‘After my friend went on his way, two police officers knocked on my door.
‘One said “we’ve had a report from someone your gardener entered your house in order to plug in your lawnmower”.
‘But my friend never entered my house.
‘I opened the window and my friend reached in with the lawnmower plug.’
Adrian said the police then visited his friend, gave him a warning and told him if they received another report about him breaking the coronavirus measures then he would be fined.
Gardeners are allowed to keep working, as long as social distancing guidelines are adhered to.
Adrian said: ‘It’s ridiculous, ludicrous. My friend lives nearby and he didn’t come into my house.
‘I am disabled and he was simply helping me by mowing my lawn, as he has done for 15 years.
‘He was being kind – he didn’t deserve a police warning.’
People who ignore movement restrictions could be fined £60, followed by a £120 fine if a second offence is made.
According to Home Office guidance, the cost of initial fixed penalty notices will be cut to £30 if they are paid within two weeks.
But if the fine is not paid, the person could be taken to court and face unlimited fines.
Mr Rimington said his friend reached through an open window to plug the mower in and has mowed his lawn for 15 years. He said his friend did not deserve a police warning (file photo)
A Derbyshire Constabulary spokesman said: ‘Officers attending the address spoke to Mr Rimington and subsequently the man who undertook the mowing.
‘We have tried to speak to Mr Rimington and his friend to apologise for our response to this but have not been able to reach them at this time.
‘There is some misunderstanding when it comes to incidents such as this – and further national guidance has been issued and this has been sent to officers.
‘Should someone be helping a friend, neighbour or family member who is in one of the vulnerable groups then they are free to do so – as they are observing the proper social distancing.
‘We must all do our bit to limit our contact with people and help stop the spread of the coronavirus, however, in this instance the officers were incorrect in their interpretation of this part of the legislation.’
The force was accused of ‘nanny policing’ last month when they used drone footage to catch people out walking in the Peak District.
UK civil liberties group Big Brother Watch branded the move ‘sinister’ and ‘counter-productive’.