Two travellers admitted obstructing bailiffs during the eviction of a site in Little Waltham.

Darren Jefferies, 26, chained himself to a gas canister and 19-year-old Alan Perrin chained himself to a wooden gate, Chelmsford Magistrates' Court heard yesterday.

The pair were arrested by police officers who cut them free with bolt cutters during the Chelmsford Council eviction operation at the illegal travellers' site in Cranham Road.

Lynne Shirley, prosecuting, said: "At about 8.30am that day bailiffs moved on to the unofficial travellers' site with an aim to evict.

"Police officers in protective clothing were present to prevent a breach of the peace."

She said the pair chained themselves to objects to slow down the eviction process.

Matthew Taylor, mitigating for Jefferies, said: "He has owned a caravan for the last year on that site. He came back this week and was only made aware of the situation on Monday. He chained himself to a gas canister."

"He had no real understanding of the planning rules or history in terms of the planning. He simply placed his caravan where others placed their caravans."

Peter Butterfield, mitigating for Perrin, said the traveller had been a resident at the site for eight months.

Perrin and Jefferies were ordered to serve a one-day sentence, which has already been carried out since their arrest on Monday.

Published Thursday January 29, 2004

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