A retired professional golfer has lost her appeal against a common assault charge following a two-day retrial at Cambridge Crown Court.
Vivien Saunders OBE was again found guilty of the offence with footage from her own vehicle’s dashcam used as evidence.
Saunders - who is the owner of Abbotsley Golf Course, in St Neots, and a qualified solicitor - chose to represent herself during the latest set of proceedings.
The court heard that on August 3, 2022, she was driving her Mercedes 4x4 in a gated community of lodges close to the golf course called Abbotsley Country Homes.
At the time, a group of residents were overseeing and helping with maintaining the gardens in the development’s communal areas.
But one neighbour, Robert Verdier, was unhappy about the work taking place close to his lodge and called Saunders, 77, who is the freeholder of the site.
When she arrived, the court heard how Saunders edged her vehicle close to the residents standing in the road.
As she edged closer, three of them including Mr Verdier, moved out of the way.
Another, who was on crutches and filming the incident on her iPad, remained in the road and was pushed by Saunders’ vehicle.
The victim, Jill Beresford-Ambridge, explained she needed the crutches as it was her first day out following a hip operation.
When being cross-examined about Saunders’ car coming closer towards her, she said: “I was terrified as she didn't stop.
“She gave me a push, and then another push... I was really nervous she wasn’t going to stop and was going to put me on the floor.
“[Saunders] absolutely 100 per cent made physical contact. She pushed me more than once.”
In the dashcam footage, Saunders shouts phrases such as “get out of the way you silly woman” and “move to the side” repeatedly at Mrs Beresford-Ambridge.
The police were called and arrested Saunders who says she handed over the dashcam footage from her vehicle for the investigation.
For background, the court heard there is a bitter dispute between Saunders and the lodge owners involving High Court proceedings and the civil courts.
Saunders said she drove to Abbotsley Country Homes when Mr Verdier called her distressed.
And among her mitigating arguments, Saunders suggested Mrs Beresford-Ambridge continued to film what was going on after the incident “to create mayhem” because of the legal action.
Throughout the trial, she insisted her vehicle didn’t make contact and this was echoed by Mr Verdier who appeared as a witness in court behind a screen.
She also wore her OBE throughout the retrial.
In the witness stand, she said: “There is no question... I did not touch [Mrs Beresford-Ambridge] or come into contact with her or her sticks.”
She later reiterated: “I am an intelligent person and I didn’t do it...”
Saunders also questioned police officers on their approach to evidence gathering including the six weeks she waited for her mobile phone to be returned.
The officers from Cambridgeshire Police explained their investigation was thorough and carried out within a reasonable timeframe.
The trial took place on September 26 and 27.
- Recommended Reading: BBC 1 programme features slavery victims who worked at A428 McDonald's
- Recommended Reading: St Neots Riverside Miniature Railway forced to shut after 'extensive' flooding
When delivering her verdict, Recorder Nash said the dashcam footage showed contact had happened with Mrs Beresford-Ambridge and it “nudged her backwards”.
She said: “The contact was deliberate and was to force Jill Beresford-Ambridge to move out of the path of the motor vehicle.
“The offence of assault has been committed and we find you guilty of the assault.”
Sentencing Saunders, Recorder Nash considered a restraining order but denied the request saying “it could be weaponised” in other legal proceedings.
It was decided Saunders’ previous sentence remains in place of a £500 fine, a £200 surcharge, £720 costs and ordered to pay compensation of £50.
In addition, she must now pay £1,300 towards the appeal costs. Her first trial was held at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court last November.
Afterwards, PC Samantha Drury who investigated, said: “Saunders’ behaviour was unacceptable, and we are pleased she has been brought to justice.
“I hope this case also serves as a deterrent to anyone who thinks they can act in a similar way.
“I’d like to also say thank you to the victim for coming forward and being brave enough to give evidence both at magistrates' court for the initial case, but then again at crown court for the appeal.”
“... A lesson to everybody here is don’t take anything to the police ever. Never trust them, you can’t trust them with anything.
“I handed over that dashcam footage to prove my innocence.
“The situation is like what happened to the person who was fined after declaring there was a migrant in their van.
“The police are also so one-sided. I’ve called numerous times and they’ve never come out when there has been an incident at my golf course.”
She added: “The worst thing I ever did was move to Cambridgeshire in 1986.
“Life is in fact at an end when you have a criminal conviction; you may as well crawl up in to the ground.
“If I want to play an international golf match in America in two years’ time, I may not be able to go. The whole ramifications of a criminal conviction are disastrous.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here