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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Gardener 'killed judge's plants' | Gardener 'killed judge's plants' |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| A gardener who was sacked by a retired High Court judge returned to his former employer's £1.5m house to spray weed-killer on flowers, a court has heard. | A gardener who was sacked by a retired High Court judge returned to his former employer's £1.5m house to spray weed-killer on flowers, a court has heard. |
| Edward Hancock denies causing criminal damage in Sir Richard Tucker's garden in Stanton, Worcestershire, in May. | Edward Hancock denies causing criminal damage in Sir Richard Tucker's garden in Stanton, Worcestershire, in May. |
| Gloucester magistrates were told how Mr Hancock, 45, had been involved in a "clash of egos" with Sir Richard's horticulturalist wife, Jacqueline. | Gloucester magistrates were told how Mr Hancock, 45, had been involved in a "clash of egos" with Sir Richard's horticulturalist wife, Jacqueline. |
| He was fired after 20 years through a | |
| note left on his van, the court heard. | |
| 'Him or me' | 'Him or me' |
| Mr Hancock, from Northway in Tewkesbury, is said to have caused damage to the garden put at £500 after he was sacked in April. | Mr Hancock, from Northway in Tewkesbury, is said to have caused damage to the garden put at £500 after he was sacked in April. |
| Sir Richard, 77, and his third wife Lady Tucker had returned from a short break in the south of France to find some of their beloved blooms had been decimated, magistrates were told. | Sir Richard, 77, and his third wife Lady Tucker had returned from a short break in the south of France to find some of their beloved blooms had been decimated, magistrates were told. |
| Giving evidence, Sir Richard - who presided over high profile cases including the Polly Peck fraud trial - said Mr Hancock had been a "good country gardener", but was "volatile". | Giving evidence, Sir Richard - who presided over high profile cases including the Polly Peck fraud trial - said Mr Hancock had been a "good country gardener", but was "volatile". |
| Edward Hancock was sacked by Sir Richard in April | Edward Hancock was sacked by Sir Richard in April |
| Sir Richard explained to the court that there had been tension between the gardener and Lady Tucker. | Sir Richard explained to the court that there had been tension between the gardener and Lady Tucker. |
| "There have been times when my wife had said, 'It's either him or me'." | "There have been times when my wife had said, 'It's either him or me'." |
| The former judge continued: "I was astonished and felt very offended that a man who had worked for me for 20 years and claimed to be a professional gardener could have done such a thing, particularly nearing the time when the whole village opens its gardens to the public for charity. | The former judge continued: "I was astonished and felt very offended that a man who had worked for me for 20 years and claimed to be a professional gardener could have done such a thing, particularly nearing the time when the whole village opens its gardens to the public for charity. |
| "All the circumstances pointed to one man." | "All the circumstances pointed to one man." |
| 'Common gardener' | 'Common gardener' |
| During his cross-examination of Lady Tucker, defence solicitor Lloyd Jenkins suggested there had been a "clash of gardening cultures" between her and Mr Hancock. | During his cross-examination of Lady Tucker, defence solicitor Lloyd Jenkins suggested there had been a "clash of gardening cultures" between her and Mr Hancock. |
| He said: "You are the expert and, without being patronising, Mr Hancock is the common gardener." | He said: "You are the expert and, without being patronising, Mr Hancock is the common gardener." |
| She replied: "That might have been what you are told," but told the court that the real problem was Mr Hancock's refusal to communicate with her. | She replied: "That might have been what you are told," but told the court that the real problem was Mr Hancock's refusal to communicate with her. |
| Kenneth Ryland, a 61-year-old company director who lives nearby, said he witnessed Mr Hancock spraying the Tuckers' four acres of land, and grew suspicious because he knew he had been fired. | Kenneth Ryland, a 61-year-old company director who lives nearby, said he witnessed Mr Hancock spraying the Tuckers' four acres of land, and grew suspicious because he knew he had been fired. |
| Mr Ryland, who had also employed Hancock as a gardener until he handed in his notice, told the court: "I said to my wife I think I've just seen Edward Hancock doing something very stupid. | Mr Ryland, who had also employed Hancock as a gardener until he handed in his notice, told the court: "I said to my wife I think I've just seen Edward Hancock doing something very stupid. |
| "When I returned to the village after being away I saw the dead plants and dead grass, and put two and two together." | "When I returned to the village after being away I saw the dead plants and dead grass, and put two and two together." |
| The trial continues. | The trial continues. |