'I have no convictions and this has caused me major distress.'
A retired teacher has received a letter from police because fallen leaves were allegedly blown onto her neighbour’s drive.
Lorraine Perro, 66, from Newthorpe, Nottinghamshire, was told this constituted antisocial behaviour and was left so intimidated by the warning she built netting around her home to catch leaves.
She claims the leaves are from trees on nearby parkland that she doesn’t own.
She said: ‘I have no convictions and this has caused me major distress.
‘We have a park area where the trees blow on to my drive and my neighbours’ drives. But I’m told by the police that I am responsible.
‘I asked why the police didn’t give warnings to the squirrels and birds as well – the wind blows the leaves around.
‘I have had to put a net up to prevent leaves being blown about. I feel terribly intimidated by this.
‘My rights and freedoms are affected, as it ignores my right to have my garden the was that I want it.
‘You are treated as a culprit, as if you have done something wrong and not given a chance to respond or defend yourself.
‘I am sure the public would like to see a better use of police time and resources in preventing serious crime.’
Police confirmed action is taken ‘whether it be leaves, bark [or] stones, which could have reasonably been avoided’.
The Community Protection Warning letter delivered to Lorraine also accused her of ‘inconsiderate parking’, which caused her neighbour difficulty.
A police spokesman said: ‘This is a long-standing dispute between two people over a number of years, which includes a multitude of allegations, where police have been called.
‘A community protection warning has been issued to the two people involved.
‘Fallen leaves or leaves blowing onto drives is not the reason why this community warning notice has been issued. It is vitally important that our resources are directed to those who need them and that we concentrate on serious crimes blighting our communities.
‘Community protection warning notices are therefore designed to ensure that behaviour does not escalate and in this case was a last resort.’
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