A MAN is being kicked out of his caravan in a quiet village – but neighbours don’t want him to leave because he keeps doggers away.
Martin Haynes, 50, is facing eviction from his parked-up motor on a leafy lane in Belton, Norfolk, despite being there for three years.
The guy, who spends most of his days doing odd-jobs, has been backed by locals who desperately want him to stay because he stops motorists pulling over to have sex.
Martin said when goes off on his travels, he will always return to find used contraception and women’s underwear – and that people only disgrace the country lanes when his home is no where to be seen.
Fly-tippers also come out in full force when Martin and his dog Biscuit are away – igniting fear in residents that their hometown will be ruined if they’re permanently moved on.
Martin said: “I am just a man who likes a cheap, easy and peaceful living.
“I went away for a couple of months last year, and when I returned, people were so thankful to see me back as they said there had been repeated issues of fly-tipping and even dogging.
“Upon clearing up the mess dumped where I pitched up I found four pairs of women’s underwear as well as used contraception.”
Martin has even set up two new vegetable patches and built the village a new sign.
He added: “All villagers that I speak with regularly who pass me on their walks have told me [the mess] is far less pleasant than my furniture and vegetables.
“The council people who come say that I need to be put in a house, to which I say ‘no thank you’.
“I don’t want to live in a house, otherwise I would have chosen that life years ago. They just don’t get it.
“But I really hope they realise that I am an honest and approachable man who is merely minding my own business and who saves the council trouble.
“I do think it is harsh that they are trying to get rid of me. I do everything to keep the lane tidy and accessible for walkers.”
Martin, who uses the facilities at nearby pubs and businesses, said he’s had visits from council officials over the last year, trying to remove him and put him up in a house.
Shaun Hicks, 63, lives in a property on Sandy Lane with his family which is within a stone’s throw of where Martin lives in his van.
He claims that before the 50-year-old and Biscuit decided to base up on the corner, it was a crime hotspot.
He said: “Before he was living there cars used to get dumped, burned out, all sorts of rubbish was being chucked there.
“Cars would pull up there throughout the night too, we never were sure why or what they would be doing.
“Kids used to go there to smoke, there was always something going on there.
“He’s good as gold as far as I am concerned. He minds his own business.
“He is very friendly and approachable. He’s just a decent human being choosing to live the way he does and I think we should respect that.”
Another nearby resident, in his 70s who wished to remain anonymous, said: “It was a dump before, look at all the work he has put in to keep it tidy here.
“We should be thanking him and respecting him for being selfless and minding his own business.
“I think it will be difficult to find someone along the lane who has an issue with him.”
However, David Mills, chair of Belton Parish Council, said there have been many concerns raised from residents in the village about Martin.
He said: “We have had many complaints from people in the village, people concerned about where he is putting his waste, lighting fires there, and the fact he is living illegally.
“If people bring concerns to us, as a council we have to chase up their problems and find a resolution since we act on behalf of the village.
“It is Norfolk County Council land he is living on so we have just contacted them and it is in their hands.”
A Norfolk County Council spokesman said: “Norfolk County Council are aware of the situation and are dealing with it in accordance with the Norfolk Protocol for Managing Unauthorised Encampments.”
