28/02/01 - Statement of PAINE, PETER JOHN
WITNESS STATEMENT
(CJ Act 1967, s.9; MC Act 1980, ss.5A(3) (a) and 5B; MC Rules 1981, r.70)
Statement of: PAINE PETER JOHN
Age if under 18: OVER 18 (if over 18 insert 'over 18')
Occupation: VOLUNTEER WORKER
This statement (consisting of 4 page(s) each signed by me) is true to the best of my knowledge and belief and I make it knowing that, if it is tendered in evidence, I shall be liable to prosecution if I have wilfully stated anything which I know to be false or do not believe to be true.
Signed: P J PAINE
Date: 28/02/2001
I am the plot secretary of Manchester Drive Allotment Society, Leigh on Sea . The allotments are situated in one large field between Manchester Drive and Randolph Close and Blenheim Chase Leigh on Sea . The site has three entrances.
The main entrance is on Manchester Drive about 100 yards west of the junction with Norfolk Avenue this entrance has a dirt track roadway which give access to the whole site. Both vehicles and pedestrians have access from this entrance.
The second entrance is a pedestrian only access, this is situated in Manchester Drive about 250 yards east of the junction of Glenacre Mews . The third entrance is accessed from Randolph Close, this is also a dirt track roadway which gives access for both vehicles and pedestrians. The who site has a perimeter fence.
All three entrances have metal gates and have padlocks on them. All three padlocks can be opened by a single key all members of the society have a key to the gates and are supposed to lock the gates when they leave. I have been a member of the society for over 5 years and have been for the last year been the allotment secretary.
The position is a voluntary one and my main role is to introduce new members and allocate plots. The site has a small shop which is situated just inside the first entrance in Manchester Drive. I run this shop but it is only open on a Saturday and Sunday's between 10am (1000) and 12 pm (1200).
As part of my role I keep a plan of the allotments which indicates all the plots within the site. I now produce this plan as my exhibit PJP/1 . I also keep a list of all the members which indicates the name and address of each member and what allotments are allocated to them. I now produce this list as my exhibit PJP/2 .
On Tuesday 27th February 2001 (27/02/2001) I went to the allotment site at about 8.30am (0830). On arrival I met Colin who is the Council caretaker for the site. I spent the next couple of hours working on plots 37 and 38, with Colin. We were cleaning up the sites for new members. I left the site with Colin around 10.30am (1030).
I never returned to the site the rest of the day. On Wednesday 28th February 2001 (28/02/2001) I received a phone call from my wife around about 9.30am (0930). She stated she was passing the allotments and saw a lot of police outside the entrance trying to get in. I then walked down to the Manchester Drive entrance and spoke to a police officer at the main entrance.
I would like to add that on Tuesday 27th February 2001 (27/02/2001) the only other person I saw on the allotments was Bob who own plot number 100. Bob was only there until around 9am (0900). When Colin and myself left, we left through the main entrance and Colin secured the padlock of the gate.
Signed: P J PAINE
Signature Witnessed by: 2004(1)
