South Devon nurse appeals for 'senseless behaviour' to stop

A South Devon nurse has appealed for ‘senseless behaviour’ to stop following a number of incidents that have occurred on her land.

The woman has experienced 5 incidents over the past few years and together with the police, decided to use Facebook to ask for help.

Kingsbridge Police posted her appeal on their Facebook Page:

Where am I living?
It’s not Syria…..It’s not Palestine…..It’s not Afghanistan……. where people take the ‘law’ into their own hands.

Can it be rural Devon?
Finding it difficult to believe it……

I considered ourselves a civilised and lawful society and especially here in Devon and yet I have had 5 incidents that have made me wonder.

Firstly around 2-3 years ago there were 2 incidents where a tool shed I had on land near the village of Loddiswell had been entered and stored equipment had been damaged with fire as well as things broken haphazardly.
There were cider and beer cans/bottles left there too.
I decided to repair and secure as best as I could which I did.

Then 18 months ago I found the shed turned over on its side ….I was with a friend and we both wondered whether it had been blown over. This time the damage was substantial to the structure and to the contents. It felt unlikely that it was the wind yet we couldn’t quite believe it was wilful action of an individual[s]. We righted the shed and again we repaired and secured.

Then within a couple of months I found the shed over on its side again this time there were marks and evidence of it being levered over. In the vicinity there were tyre marks in the soft ground. This time I took photos and contacted the Police. They made local enquiries……..very difficult to know what had happened and by whom.

Then on the 30th November 2014 I went down to walk the land and check the footpaths and I found the gate and railings beside it, at the entrance to the land, sawn into pieces by a chain saw. Proceeding to my shed I found someone had tried to set fire to it causing damage to some of its contents and to the actual shed itself. I called the Police immediately.

We have met together on the land and looked at the damage that has been caused. On talking together it was decided to use the Kingsbridge Facebook site and ask for help.

Can anyone throw any light on the incidences?
Has anyone any ideas of how to deal with this?

I don’t want to be punitive. I don’t need revenge. I don’t even need justice as such.
I just need this senseless behaviour to stop.

I work as a nurse in South Devon.
My time on the land is important for me as it balances the work I do in my nursing……it helps to recharge my batteries.
I need an atmosphere of peace and quiet….not one of devastation and destruction.
If you think you could help in any way please contact Police on 101.