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Priddy Circles damage |
BERNARDQUATERMASS
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from Oldham, Lancashire
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|  Posted 19-04-2012 at 10:33
What time is he in court, and where?
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TheCaptain
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from near Bristol
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|  Posted 19-04-2012 at 13:03
Sorry, don't know. Awaiting to see what happens with much interest (but not holding my breath).
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PeteG
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from Avebury
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| Posted 19-04-2012 at 17:27
EH have confirmed that the Priddy Henge vandal Mr Penny pleaded guilty and the Magistrates' have committed the matter to the Crown Court for sentencing on 18th May 2012.
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Andy B
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from Surrey, UK
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| Posted 19-04-2012 at 17:53
Thanks Pete - I suppose we should be thankful for that compared to the amount of court time and trouble he could have caused by trying to look for a loophole. Mind you I don't suppose you can get good lawyers experienced in heritage crime on criminal legal aid so it'd probably be cheaper for him to pay the fine...
(not sure if we should be discussing this yet - is the case still sub judice between guilty plea and sentencing - does anyone know?)
[ This message was edited by: Andy B on 2012-04-19 17:54 ]
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cerrig
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| Posted 19-04-2012 at 18:54
"Referred to Crown Court for sentencing" sounds a bit more serious than a fine. This feller has reason to be concerned I think.
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Runemage
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| Posted 19-04-2012 at 22:27
not sure if we should be discussing this yet - is the case still sub judice between guilty plea and sentencing - does anyone know?)
As his guilt is not in doubt, it should be okay.
Rune
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PeteG
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| Posted 19-04-2012 at 23:16
as he has put in a guilty plea it is ok to name Mr Penny and talk about his misdeeds...
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PeteG
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from Avebury
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| Posted 20-04-2012 at 00:55
http://www.pennyplant.com/
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Andy B
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from Surrey, UK
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| Posted 20-04-2012 at 01:17
"RM Penny is one of the leading companies in the South West providing modern solutions for Demolition, Excavation, and Plant hire. With our large tipper fleet for muck away or aggregate deliveries, we can accommodate your requirements."
In the circumstances that's almost beyond parody.
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PeteG
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from Avebury
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| Posted 20-04-2012 at 01:30
Guess who gets the contract for the earth moving at Stonehenge next year?
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TheCaptain
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from near Bristol
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| Posted 20-04-2012 at 12:47
Blame it on the contractors
http://www.thisissomerset.co.uk/Landowner-admits-monumental-error-caused-Priddy/story-15864680-detail/story.html
[ This message was edited by: TheCaptain on 2012-04-20 12:48 ]
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PeteG
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| Posted 20-04-2012 at 13:39
owner of the racehorse "Earthmover" you can't make it up can you?
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Andy B
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from Surrey, UK
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| Posted 20-04-2012 at 14:46
> Guess who gets the contract for the earth moving at Stonehenge next year?
No - seriously?
> Blame it on the contractors
We suspected he'd say that, at least he didn't use that as an excuse to try and get out of it. He's 'playing' ill health as well - I'd bet on a short suspended sentence + fine.
"One contractor used rubble to fill swallet holes, natural holes inside the ring which may be the key to the monument’s creation."
These could potentially be cleared out and excavated then - it would be good to see some 'restorative justice' wouldn't it.
[ This message was edited by: Andy B on 2012-04-20 14:49 ]
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TheCaptain
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| Posted 20-04-2012 at 17:03
I personally don't really care what they do sentence old Mr Penny with, thankfully he pleaded guilty.
But I would like to see proper excavations done on the destroyed part of the circles, and restorative work done to reinstate what is now missing. Obviously with much of the costs down to those that destroyed the circle.
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TheCaptain
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| Posted 22-04-2012 at 19:41
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-17771005#
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Feanor
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from Cape Cod Massachusetts, US
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| Posted 23-04-2012 at 01:00
I have been following this story since it broke last year, and have read and watched those few little tid-bits which have been released in the Press.
I do have a few questions to pose with regard to the matter, in hopes that someone here might clarify.
It seems to have taken an inordinate length of time to identify Mr Penny as the culprit. (He has admitted his involvement, saving me the qualification of continuously using "Alleged" Culprit)
In reviewing Mr Penny's Company Web-Site, I see well in excess of a million dollars in earth-moving & support equipment.
Does he own the land where the Circles are located?
Is the region where the Priddy Circles are located financially depressed?
Has Mr Penny made any public remarks as to why he (or his employees) has done this? It seems to me that a man in his Trade would be more than well-aware of the ramifications in destroying a Scheduled Monument.
The damage to the Circle cannot have been done at one time, ie: from key-on to key-off. It appears - from the aerial photos - to have taken place over several sessions, in addition to employing different machines. Did no one in the vicinity hear or see?
While I understand that this news is in no way comparable to the extensive coverage devoted to Simon Cowell's autobiography, or the fashioning of Olympic Rings, or the Duchess of Oxford's new frock, it does smack of slippage to a quarter-column on page 6.
If he owns the land then perhaps he feels he can do as he pleases - dusty old Circles be damned.
If this area of the Mendips is depressed, then Mr Penny is an important employer.
If true, Mr Penny has locally important political/law enforcement friends.
If true, these influential friends might gum-up the investigative process.
Does English Jurisprudence sustain a plea-bargain arrangement?
The short version here is: I would like to be able to assign some kind of motivation to his actions and to discover why this has gone on for so long, seemingly in the shadows - complete with Official Brush-Offs from the NT & EH to responsible queries.
Over here, the Wheels of Justice are truly very slow, no question. But when the 'Perp' is identified we drop the hammer very hard, very quickly.
This is, of course if he is just some poor schlerb in the wrong place at the wrong time.
If he's a local big-wig, another kind of Justice prevails.
All the best from this chair,
Neil
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[ This message was edited by: Feanor on 2012-04-23 01:04 ]
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TheCaptain
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| Posted 23-04-2012 at 12:35
I have no doubts there are some funny handshakes involved.
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karloff
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| Posted 23-04-2012 at 14:05
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On 2012-04-23 01:00, Feanor wrote:
1. It seems to have taken an inordinate length of time to identify Mr Penny as the culprit. (He has admitted his involvement, saving me the qualification of continuously using "Alleged" Culprit)
2.Does he own the land where the Circles are located?
3. Is the region where the Priddy Circles are located financially depressed?
4. Has Mr Penny made any public remarks as to why he (or his employees) has done this? It seems to me that a man in his Trade would be more than well-aware of the ramifications in destroying a Scheduled Monument.
5. The damage to the Circle cannot have been done at one time, ie: from key-on to key-off. It appears - from the aerial photos - to have taken place over several sessions, in addition to employing different machines. Did no one in the vicinity hear or see?
Neil
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[ This message was edited by: Feanor on 2012-04-23 01:04 ]
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Hi
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1. Earlier cases involving the AMaA Act 1979 have failed because EH had not gathered enough evidence to prove that archaeology had been damaged and that the person was aware they were damaging a protected monument. So EH neede to show a lawyer that Mr Penny was culpable. That takes field surveys, legal searches, minor archaeological investigations, paperwork etc.
2. Yes he ownes the land where the circle he damaged is located.
3. No
4. Yes he has, google it and you'll see.
5. It was all done in a very short period of time (pretty much in one go) and was reported by a member of the public to the Local Authority who in turn reported to EH all within days of the damage occuring.
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Feanor
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from Cape Cod Massachusetts, US
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| Posted 23-04-2012 at 21:57
Thank You Boris!
Much obliged.
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TheCaptain
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from near Bristol
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| Posted 24-04-2012 at 12:58
4. Has Mr Penny made any public remarks as to why he (or his employees) has done this? It seems to me that a man in his Trade would be more than well-aware of the ramifications in destroying a Scheduled Monument.
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4. Yes he has, google it and you'll see.
I had a look around last night, but couldn't find anything, other than the basic newspaper item.
Care to give us any links or clues Karloff?
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