Drunk farmer went after teen in his tractor and threatened to shoot him after discovering the boy exterior his daughter’s bed room

An ‘old school’ farmer went after a teenage boy on his tractor and threatened to shoot him after catching him outside his daughter’s bedroom, a court heard. 

Stephen Smith, 60, woke at 3.50am to find the lad in his home after his daughter had invited him over so they could watch the sunrise together.

A court heard the father-of-three told the teenager to leave, which he eventually did. 

Smith, a ‘well respected’ member of the community in the affluent village of Studland, Dorset, said he expected the boy to later contact him with an apology. 

When that wasn’t forthcoming he jumped on his tractor and drove to his home. 

There he got into an argument with the boy’s mother. In a drunken state, Smith then threatened to ‘get my gun and shoot you all’. 

The disturbance was witnessed by several neighbours and the police were called at 11.30pm on July 14 last year. 

Smith pleaded guilty to using threatening or abusive words or behaviour and possessing ammunition for a firearm without a certificate. 

Stephen Smith was an ‘old school’ farmer who expected the boy to apologise, the court heard

His lawyer explained to the court that his client has ‘certain values’ and would ‘very much have appreciated an apology’ from the boy. 

Ian Daly, defending, told magistrates in Weymouth last Wednesday: ‘Having read the references you will wonder why does a man with that background, his honesty and the way he’s viewed in his community, behave in this out of character way.

‘He was awoken at 3.50am by a sound in his house. He opened the door and saw a teenage male outside his daughter’s bedroom.

‘He didn’t give permission for this young man to be in his property, he asked him to leave three times, he did not. 

‘His wife got out of bed and persuaded the young man to leave. It is not known how he got in. 

‘He later found out he had been invited by the daughter to go out together to watch the sunrise. He thought perhaps the intentions of this young man were something other than that. 

‘Mr Smith went out and worked that day, hoping and expecting he would receive an apology from this young man, sadly no apology was forthcoming. 

‘He is very much old school, he has certain values and would very much have appreciated an apology.’ 

Studland on Dorset’s Isle of Purbeck is a popular holiday destination 

After stewing on the matter for most of the following day Smith, who has run Manor Farm in Studland for about 33 years, went to the pub to watch the European Championships final which England lost. 

Despite having a few drinks he then got on his large tractor and trailer and parked it outside the boy’s house. 

Laura Lohk, prosecuting, said: ‘He left his tractor with a large trailer attached outside (the victim’s) home address with the engine running and lights on. 

‘(The boy’s mother) saw him walking away and called out to ask him what he was doing. He said ‘speak to your son’. 

‘There was an argument. He was under the influence of drink, shouting ‘get the f*** out of my way, f*** off, b****’. 

‘Her statement said he shouted at her and her son and said ‘I should have shot him, f***it I’m going to get my gun and shoot you all’. ‘These threats were alarming to her.’ 

Mr Daly said his client accepts what he said was ‘puerile’ and he cringes at what he did. 

He told the court Smith had a gun cabinet at home but did not own a gun and ‘only had…ammunition.’

He added:  ‘There was no prospect at all of what was said ever being carried out, he had no intention to use the ammunition. 

‘It was an unpleasant incident, which he deeply regrets and was entirely out of character. He is well-respected in the community.’

District Judge Orla Austin said it was a ‘serious matter’ that warranted a community order. 

She said: ‘Clearly this was a disgraceful incident. They must have been frightened. 

‘The words you used were very frightening and they did not know whether you intended to carry out the threat you made.’ 

She ordered Smith to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work in 12 months and to pay £85 costs and £114 victim surcharge.