Fodboldkamp i haven kostede skatteyderne £50.000

A strict 63-year old woman’s urge for what in her opinion was justice created a £50.000 bill, for the tax-payers. Mr. Fleming-Brown and his 5-year old son were playing football in a communal garden, when Ms Lawton spotted them. She prosecuted Mr. Fleming-Brown, under the Town Gardens Protection Act 1863.The judges ruled that a small kickabout did not constitute a game of football, as defined by the Oxford English Dictionary. They also ruled that father and sons activities were not in danger of damaging trees, shrubs or flowers.Unprepared to let her case rest there, Ms Lawton took her campaign to the High Court in London. She was again turned down, and the judges changed the bylaws to allow parents and their children playing ball-games. The fact that the case was even taken to court was highly criticized by Mr. Fleming-Brown’s solicitor Andrew Gregg. He called it an absolute waste of time and money. Money, which the tax-payers will now be funding.