A CROWDFUNDING appeal to pay a farmer’s £30,000 legal costs after he was acquitted of grievous bodily harm has passed the half way mark in only six days.

Kenneth Hugill, 83, from Wilberfoss, was cleared of the charge against him by a jury at Hull Crown Court in just 24 minutes after he shot convicted burglar Richard Stables at his farm in November 2015.

 

York Press:

Mr Hugill said he fired his shotgun when a car with Mr Stables inside was driven towards him at speed and he feared for his life.

The court heard the man he shot in the foot has convictions for burglary, theft and possession of an offensive weapon, and, at hospital, gave three different versions of events before admitting a farmer had shot him.

He also admitted to lamping with a lurcher dog close to Mr Hugill’s Mill House Farm.

More than £16,000 has now been raised after Nick Freeman, a celebrity lawyer known as Mr Loophole, started a crowdfunding account.

He told The Press: “I’m very pleased for Mr Hugill, it seems to be moving in the right direction and hopefully we'll reach our target.

“The difficulty for the Hugill family is they’ve been stressed by the whole experience of finding two men on their land and being on bail for 16 months.

“Most people think he shouldn’t have been charged, they sympathise with him because the police arrived 15 hours later and erroneously thought it was a hostage situation, and the jury took only 24 minutes to acquit him, mirroring my view there was no justification in charging him.

“The whole situation has been horrific for a man of his age and character in his stage of life, and the public don’t want to prolong his suffering.”

Some members of the public have donated amounts ranging from £2 to £500. One donor said: “You are an inspiration to us all!

“That we should all be so courageous to protect our homes and properties.”

Another added: “Hope this donation, in some small way, alleviates your worry and shows you that there are more caring people out there than the other kind.”

To make a donation go to: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/supportkennethhugill