A grandfather who complained to police that his pedophile “neighbor from hell” was allegedly using a secret camera to “spy” on his 12-year-old grandson is furious after his arrest.
Stunned Martin Prior was locked in a cell for more than five hours before being questioned on suspicion of harassing the local resident by calling him a “bloody paedo”.
Six police officers in three vehicles turned up at his home in Herefordshire, after the concerned homeowner spoke to his local newspaper and then MailOnline.
He had been outraged that officers decided that placing what he considered a threatening device in a lane near his home was not a crime.
Instead, coachbuilder Martin, 65, has been arrested by West Mercia Police accused of two counts of harassment and theft of two paving slabs.
Martin Prior, 65, with the CCTV camera he discovered outside his property. Prior fears convicted pedophile is using camera to film grandson
The camera was pointed at Mr Prior’s property. It remains in effect on land not owned by the sex offender and does not cover his or her property.
He has since been released on bail until March 21 pending further investigations.
A family source said: “It seems crazy, completely crazy that Martin was arrested for complaining about a convicted sex offender who he feared might be filming his grandson and his friends playing in the garden treehouse.”
‘His complaint went in the opposite direction and he now finds himself at the center of a criminal case.
“It was a terrifying experience for him and his family.”
Neither Martin nor the media have publicly named the neighbor who was released in the fall of last year after serving a nine-month sentence for possessing indecent photographs of children on his work laptop.
The grandfather first complained to police on December 22 when he saw what he believes is a spy camera.
The police initially investigated his complaint but closed it and told him: “We have not been informed of any crime and therefore it is not a police matter.”
Before his shock arrest, he had expressed “fury and disbelief” at the police’s refusal to take action, insisting the device was legal.
He himself has not confronted the 51-year-old resident, whom he described as a “neighbor from hell”, “very intimidating and aggressive” and feared by other locals.
Martin has been in dispute for more than 30 years with the man and his family over boundary issues.
Reliving his arrest, the family source said: ‘At around threepm last Thursday, a marked police van and two marked cars, along with at least six officers stopped on the road in front of the house, in view of several neighbors.
‘Martin was arrested for the alleged theft of two slabs, which he denies. One was damaged and worthless, the other was worth perhaps £4 and allegedly belonged to the sex offender.
‘He was also arrested for harassing the man by calling him a ‘bloody paedo’ and for harassing him over his article in the Hereford Times, which did not reveal his name, address or picture.
“He was taken to Hereford Police Station where he went through the full custody procedure and was then locked in a cell for more than five hours, before a three and a quarter hour interview and his eventual release on police bail around 10:30 p.m.
“Never before in his life had he been arrested, reprimanded or even informally warned by the police.
‘It was a terrifying and absolutely strange experience. When he saw the police activity outside, he assumed they were there to arrest his neighbor.
“But he has promised not to stand still.”
Mr and Mrs Priors’ grandson used to visit friends, but they have had to “dramatically reduce these visits to protect these children from the possibility of being filmed”.
Martin’s shocked wife Jo, 64, said: “I am disillusioned with the police and scared to continue living here.”
“I am totally devastated by my husband’s arrest and I still have panic attacks.”
He added: “This was very visual and totally inappropriate policing and what could be considered a waste of resources and an abuse of power.”
Martin had claimed that the spy camera placed on a third-party fence on what he claimed was a mixed public and private road, pointed towards a tree house regularly used by his grandson and his friends.
He said: ‘I discovered a camera hidden in a gate post on the land between our two properties and pointing in the direction of mine, and towards the tree house where my grandson and his young friends play in the tree house when we they visit.
“I reported it to the police because I was worried that one of our neighbors, who is a convicted pedophile, had left it there. They went out to investigate
Martin continued: ‘Incredibly, when the police spoke informally to his neighbour, they advised him to install a camera because he claimed I had been moving his slabs on a shared verge.
“The neighbor did not deny putting it up, but said he was filming in relation to a past dispute over boundaries between our two families.”
Martin, who did not want a direct confrontation with the man, said: “He is very intimidating and aggressive.” Some people around here are too scared to walk their dogs in case he comes out and lunges at them.
He was also concerned there may be other hidden cameras pointing at his home near Hereford.
The police told him that after speaking with the alleged owner of the camera they could not act.
Martin said at the time: ‘It’s infuriating and unbelievable. The police have lost interest in this matter and will do nothing. It is unacceptable.”
A West Mercia Police spokesperson said: “We are aware of a concern raised about the placement of a CCTV camera.
“However, we have not been informed of any crime and therefore it is not a police matter.”
The force spokesperson added: “We cannot confirm or deny the location or identity of a registered sex offender in the community.”
The camera remains placed on land not owned by the sex offender and does not cover his property.
Martin said he and his wife have stopped their grandson from playing in the yard when he visits for “fear of the possibility of being filmed.”
He added: “It’s a horrible situation.”
Police recommended that the head of household raise any concerns with the Information Commissioner’s Office, which is responsible for enforcing the UK’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and offering advice and assistance to people.
That body’s online advice says: ‘The use of recording equipment, such as CCTV or smart doorbells, to capture video or sound recordings outside the user’s property does not constitute a breach of data protection law.
‘People should try to point their CCTV cameras away from their neighbours’ houses, shared spaces or public streets. But this is not always possible.
‘When people capture images and audio recordings outside their boundaries, they should consider how intrusive this activity is.
‘If someone is recording your child using CCTV, we suggest you speak to the person making the recording.
“If you believe the person is filming your child inappropriately or to cause harm, you should contact the police.”
Correspondence between Martin and police shows that the Safer Neighborhood Team is refusing to investigate the camera, despite concerns about a “serious invasion of privacy.”
In an email, an officer said: ‘I do not know which council may have chosen to install CCTV cameras.
“Issues relating to the use of CCTV are for the Information Commissioner’s Office to monitor and address.”
He has now complained to the force’s professional standards department.
MailOnline has attempted to approach the “accused” resident for possible comment.