83-year-old farmer Kenneth Hugill was forced to spend £30,000 to fund his own defence after the police and CPS prosecuted him for shooting a convicted burglar in the foot he thought was stealing diesel from his isolated Yorkshire farm.

The man he shot - who has convictions for burglary, theft and possession of an offence weapon - gave three different versions of events before admitting a farmer had shot him.

At Mr Hugill's trial, the court heard the man he shot was also on a police intelligence list. Additionally, a second man who drove the "victim" to hospital had convictions for burglary and violence.

After the incident, Mr Hugill called the police, but they failed to respond that night.

And when they did finally attend - 15 hours later - the police thought they were dealing with a hostage situation!

Despite his age and never being on the wrong side of the law, it was Mr Hugill who was hauled before the courts.

However, after hearing all the evidence, a jury at Hull Crown Court took just 24 minutes to clear him of GBH.

Despite being found not guilty, he will still have to pay for his legal fees - £30,000.

The current legal system is a disgrace. This is not justice!

This is why I have started this crowd-funding page to help Mr Hugill pay for the legal fees he has incurred to defend himself.

Below is a link to the case as reported in the Daily Telegraph.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/03/10/farmer-83-weeps-jury-clears-gbhafter-taken-court-shooting-suspected/