British Villager arrested 'for firing warning shots at gipsy children who trespassed on his land'

A carer said to have become so exasperated with trespassing traveller children that he fired a shot over their heads, has been arrested.

Christopher Bayfield is understood to have suffered repeated petty thefts after 1,000 travellers arrived for a Christian festival in a field next to the house he shares with his parents.

Just hours before he fired the warning shot, he had reported a theft from a car in the driveway.

And, after hearing noises outside the family’s £1million five-bedroom house in Swavesey, Cambridgeshire, he is said to have shouted at the children and fired the warning shot vertically into the air in ‘exasperation’.

The children’s father contacted police when he learned a shot had been fired – but admitted his son had been in private land beside the house.

Cambridgeshire Police later confirmed the intruders were a five-year-old boy and girl of seven.

The travellers and gipsies arrived on the 30-acre field last week.

The landowner expected 30 people – instead, 200 caravans turned up. Soon, the village shop reported thefts by children and the village pub posted a notice saying that only residents would be admitted in an attempt to avoid trouble.

There were complaints that people had been urinating in public areas and saplings were stripped from nearby land.

Yesterday, Mr Bayfield’s family told how seven officers, five of whom were armed, arrived at the house late at night.

The 40-year-old, who looks after his seriously ill father Leslie, 85, was arrested on suspicion of firearm offences, interviewed and released on bail.

His weapon, which he normally uses it to kill rabbits on his vegetable patch, was confiscated.

His father, a retired businessman, said police had scared the family when they turned up.

Mr Bayfield’s sister Pippa, 43, who lives in Cambridge, said: ‘There were five armed officers who turned up at about 11.30pm with a warrant.

‘They took away his clothing for analysis. I don’t understand why – he’s got a firearms licence so there would be residue on his clothes.’

Villagers said the ‘mild-mannered’ bachelor had been provoked into firing the shot on Thursday.

One said: ‘I can only think it would have been exasperation. They’d been at his fruit and veg all week.’

Neighbour John Smart, 78, said: ‘There had been pilfering all week and when he heard something he thought enough was enough.’

Ralph Bayfield, 80, Mr Bayfield’s uncle from Benwick, Cambridgeshire, said: ‘We have a big traveller problem in this area. Christopher has had two lawnmowers stolen.

‘While the police were investigating, someone broke into his car right under their noses. Christopher’s father has cancer so this has been a big weight on his mind.’

The travellers, who were celebrating the Light and Life Gipsy Festival, said they had only come to ‘preach the gospel of Jesus Christ’.

Senior pastor John Boyd said: ‘It’s a terrible thing to do to a little boy collecting ladybirds. Thankfully this is a Christian family and the matter did not escalate as it could have.’

Mr Bayfield will find out next month whether he will be charged.

Source

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