A farmer threatened to slash a man’s car tyres during a dispute over a 5mph limit at a riding school near Richmond, a court heard this week.
Mark Firby, 61, was marshalling vehicles into parking spots on his land in Hudswell Lane – the location for his wife’s riding school, The Hollies – when the named victim drove into the yard in a hurry because he was running late dropping his young daughter off for a riding lesson, York magistrates were told.
Prosecutor Antony Farrell said the victim was driving at over the 5mph limit on the driveway to the riding school which angered Firby who signalled to him to slow down.
The victim slowed his car as he approached the yard entrance and wound his window down as Firby, wearing a high-viz jacket, approached the driver’s-side door to speak to him.
Firby told him that he had been driving too fast and pointed out that it was a 5mph zone, as indicated by a sign.
“(The victim) said he hadn’t been speeding and needed to get his daughter to a riding lesson,” added Mr Farrell.
As the victim started to drive forward again, Firby told him to stop.
The victim then saw the farmer reach into his pocket and pull out what he claimed was a knife, but which Firby later claimed was a key.
The farmer then pointed the sharp object at the victim’s front tyre.
Firby told the victim: “If you move, I’ll cut your f****** tyre.”
Mr Farrell said that, according to the victim, Firby told him that “he was a farmer and always carried a knife (for work purposes)”.
Firby then put the object back in his pocket, telling the victim: “You are a p****. You must spend your whole life winding people up.”
He then walked alongside the vehicle “for a short distance” as it continued to drive towards the riding school.
The victim later went to Richmond Police Station to make a complaint.
Firby, of Hudswell Lane, was charged with threatening to damage property, namely threatening to slash the man’s tyres.
He admitted the offence when he appeared at York Magistrates’ Court yesterday (Monday, July 27).
In a statement read out by the prosecution, the victim said he was “quite shaken” following the incident at about 2pm on April 25.
Firby’s solicitor Kevin Blount said the Richmond farmer had never been in trouble before and was a “man of good character”.
He said that Firby owned the farmland on which his wife’s riding school was located.
“He is a plain-speaking farmer,” added Mr Blount.
“On that day (the victim) was clearly running late and he was doing 10mph, not 5mph.”
He said that Firby was worried because there were many children on horses crossing the yard.
“He accepts that he got something out of his pocket,” said Mr Blount.
“He told police it was keys. (The victim) thinks he saw a knife in his hand.”
Mr Blount said that the day after the incident, the victim had been told he wasn’t welcome at the riding school and hadn’t been back since.
He said that due to the incident, Firby was facing serious consequences including potentially losing his shotgun licence which would have to be reviewed by police due to his now criminal conviction.
“He can’t afford to retire,” added Mr Blount.
“He needs to keep the farm going. He is (also) working as a taxi driver to make ends meet.”
He said that due to Firby’s criminal conviction, he now also faced the prospect of losing his taxi licence.
Mark Nuttall, chairman of the magistrates’ bench, said they had noted Firby’s “previous good character” and had therefore decided to give him a six-month conditional discharge.
It meant that Firby would not be punished for the offence unless he reoffended within the next six months, in which case he would be sentenced for this and any further offence.
He was ordered to pay £85 costs and a £26 victim surcharge.
