Festival boss cleared of drugs charge

[Suzannah]

Hill farmer Andy Norman, who stages the crowd-drawing Thimbleberry Music Festival on his land above Stanhope, Weardale, County Durham, was charged with permitting people to smoke cannabis at the event.

But yesterday Judge Christopher Prince, presiding at Durham Crown Court, directed Mr Norman, 52, to plead not guilty.

The judge did so after hearing an argument from Mr Norman’s barrister, Chris Baker, that Michael Eavis, the organiser of the original Glastonbury, could hardly be held responsible for the behaviour of each individual who flocks to that event.

Therefore, he said, neither could Mr Norman at Thimbleberry.

Police charged Mr Norman with knowingly permitting the smoking of a class B drug on his premises between September 24 and September 27 last year, the dates the festival took place featuring underground musical luminaries as Nik Turner, formerly of Hawkwind, and Tony McPhee of Groundhogs fame.

The judge, on clearing Mr Norman, told him he could apply for £10 defence costs – the cost of him travelling to Durham – but as it would cost £15 of public money to process the application he hoped he would decide not to. Mr Norman agreed.

Afterwards he said: “The prosecution was a farce. I have had the prospect of prison hanging over me since I was charged.

“I do what I can to prevent drug taking, I put up No Smoking signs, but I cannot be responsible for everybody. There were 600 paying spectators and 500 musicians and their road crew at last year’s event.

“I intend to put on another festival this September now that this millstone has finally been removed.”

Now Mr Norman says he faces a legal battle to recover more than £3,000 festival takings which he said were confiscated under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Thimbleberry, said to be held on an old Viking settlement, has established itself over the last seven years as a platform for unsigned bands with four stages covering genres from drum and bass to indie, jazz and reggae

http://www.journallive.co.uk/north-east-ne...61634-26022485/

[gratedenini]

How pathetic is this eh. Its just the authorities trying to stop what they see as something "wrong".

Look...FACT... illegal activities occur as this festival... alongside EVERY other festival i`ve ever been to.

Because this is a small event --maybe its more conspicuous...certainly the times we`ve been...theres been plenty of gear about.

What makes me laugh though is the charge related to smoking tac. What about all the other drugs???

Also, because of the location of this fest (middle of nowhere being an understatement)... any police presence, would be highly noticeable.

The local constabulary should concentrate more on the rampant criminal activities on the streets of Stanhope

den

[Medina]

I'm pleased for Andy Norman and know what it will have been like having this charge hanging over him.

For the past two years I've had to suffer attempts by a handful of local NIMBYs to get me banned from my local Council (I'm a County & Borough Councillor) due to me voting to save the Stokes Bay Festival in 2008.... a festival I was helping to organise.

The NIMBYs and my political opponents originally got me disqualified as a local councillor for two years.

I took my case to the High Court and last month I won my appeal. The disqualification was completely quashed and I was awarded my full costs.

As Andy Norman has also discovered, the judiciary can be a lot more reasonable than those who seek to stop festivals happening.

I hope he will be able to organise Thimbleberry again this year and I wish him every success.

[Paul ™]

All good news for Andy, posted this on my Facebook yesterday! Common sense prevails