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| Gardener Andrew Woodhouse who beat thieves is cleared | Gardener Andrew Woodhouse who beat thieves is cleared |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A gardener has been cleared of causing grievous bodily harm to thieves he caught red-handed raiding his business. | A gardener has been cleared of causing grievous bodily harm to thieves he caught red-handed raiding his business. |
| Andrew Woodhouse, 44, from Govilon, Monmouthshire, beat one so badly he suffered two broken legs and a broken arm. | Andrew Woodhouse, 44, from Govilon, Monmouthshire, beat one so badly he suffered two broken legs and a broken arm. |
| He then sat on burglars Kevin Green and Timothy Cross until the police arrived, Cardiff Crown Court heard. | He then sat on burglars Kevin Green and Timothy Cross until the police arrived, Cardiff Crown Court heard. |
| Mr Woodhouse's firm had repeatedly been targeted by thieves. Green and Cross were later fined £75 each for theft. | Mr Woodhouse's firm had repeatedly been targeted by thieves. Green and Cross were later fined £75 each for theft. |
| The court heard how the gardener was woken at about 00:30 GMT one day in March 2013 by a text message telling him a burglar alarm had gone off at the tyre yard where his business is based a mile from his home. | The court heard how the gardener was woken at about 00:30 GMT one day in March 2013 by a text message telling him a burglar alarm had gone off at the tyre yard where his business is based a mile from his home. |
| 'Over the top' | 'Over the top' |
| Gwent Police officers found Green, 53, lying injured under a blanket and Cross, 32, claiming the businessman had gone "over the top". | Gwent Police officers found Green, 53, lying injured under a blanket and Cross, 32, claiming the businessman had gone "over the top". |
| The court was told the father-of-five was arrested and accused of using excessive force. | The court was told the father-of-five was arrested and accused of using excessive force. |
| But Andrew Taylor, defending, said: "These thieves thought they would have nice easy pickings that night. | But Andrew Taylor, defending, said: "These thieves thought they would have nice easy pickings that night. |
| "Many people would have given up and just claimed on their insurance but Mr Woodhouse is made of sterner stuff. | "Many people would have given up and just claimed on their insurance but Mr Woodhouse is made of sterner stuff. |
| "He showed stoicism, courage and fitness to chase them. | "He showed stoicism, courage and fitness to chase them. |
| "One of the men was armed and went to attack him. He acted in lawful self defence. | "One of the men was armed and went to attack him. He acted in lawful self defence. |
| "He agrees the red mist came down which you can understand when his business has almost been wiped out by crime. | "He agrees the red mist came down which you can understand when his business has almost been wiped out by crime. |
| "If it hadn't been for him these men would not have been caught. Where are we in society when a person cannot act in self-defence to protect his property? That is what Mr Woodhouse was doing." | "If it hadn't been for him these men would not have been caught. Where are we in society when a person cannot act in self-defence to protect his property? That is what Mr Woodhouse was doing." |
| Green and Cross tried to escape into a neighbouring field with jerry cans full of stolen fuel. | Green and Cross tried to escape into a neighbouring field with jerry cans full of stolen fuel. |
| Fought like 'mad man' | Fought like 'mad man' |
| But Mr Woodhouse chased Green and caught him near their getaway car. He attacked Green leaving him with two broken legs and a broken arm. | But Mr Woodhouse chased Green and caught him near their getaway car. He attacked Green leaving him with two broken legs and a broken arm. |
| Mr Woodhouse then chased Cross before rugby-tackling him and then lying on top of the raider until police arrived. | Mr Woodhouse then chased Cross before rugby-tackling him and then lying on top of the raider until police arrived. |
| James Wilson, prosecuting, said: "When he saw his hard earned money carted off by a couple of ne'er-do-wells, he gave chase in anger intending to injure them." | James Wilson, prosecuting, said: "When he saw his hard earned money carted off by a couple of ne'er-do-wells, he gave chase in anger intending to injure them." |
| Mr Wilson described it an "unreasonable and unlawful assault". | Mr Wilson described it an "unreasonable and unlawful assault". |
| He said: "It was not reasonable self-defence. Mr Woodhouse lost his temper and went over the top. | He said: "It was not reasonable self-defence. Mr Woodhouse lost his temper and went over the top. |
| "He is a hard working businessman but he has let his frustration get the better of him. He lost it." | "He is a hard working businessman but he has let his frustration get the better of him. He lost it." |
| The court heard how Mr Woodhouse gave police a full account of how he fought with the two raiders like a "mad man". | The court heard how Mr Woodhouse gave police a full account of how he fought with the two raiders like a "mad man". |
| He told police: "I swore at the men and grabbed one of them, I then felt a blow to my hand and shoulder and began grappling with them. | He told police: "I swore at the men and grabbed one of them, I then felt a blow to my hand and shoulder and began grappling with them. |
| "I was pushed over and then I grabbed something from one of their hands which felt like a wooden fence post." | |
| Mr Woodhouse said he was "gutted and sickened" to learn the extent of Green's injuries. | Mr Woodhouse said he was "gutted and sickened" to learn the extent of Green's injuries. |
| The gardener, who denied the charges and was found not guilty on Wednesday, set up the business 20 years ago and had suffered the theft of machinery worth between £15,000 and £25,000 in recent years, the court heard. | The gardener, who denied the charges and was found not guilty on Wednesday, set up the business 20 years ago and had suffered the theft of machinery worth between £15,000 and £25,000 in recent years, the court heard. |