MARK Whittaker drove his vehicle towards a police officer and a bailiff after he was called to the family farm by his sick father. He got into a vehicle, drove towards them and came to an abrupt halt, prosecutor Francesca Devine told Fenland magistrates

MARK Whittaker drove his vehicle towards a police officer and a bailiff after he was called to the family farm by his sick father.

"He got into a vehicle, drove towards them and came to an abrupt halt," prosecutor Francesca Devine told Fenland magistrates. "He used abusive language."

Sgt Stuart Hurst had been asked to accompany the bailiff because there had been an incident at the family farm the previous day, explained Mrs Devine.

"His father did not want the officer and warrant officer on his farm," she added.

Both Mark Whittaker, 33, and Adrian Whittaker, 57, of Curf Farm, Doddington Road, Chatteris, had previously denied using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour on May 11 last year.

This week the Crown Prosecution offered no evidence against Adrian Whittaker, who is suffering from cancer, and the court dismissed the case. Mark Whittaker agreed to be bound over to keep the peace for 12 months in the sum of £250, and the charge against him was dropped.

Mitigating, Hugh Cauthery said a bailiff had visited Whittaker's father the previous day, and upset him by his "high handed" behaviour.

"The bailiff was not prepared to take no for an answer and there was a stand-off between Mr Whittaker senior and the bailiff," he explained. "He accepted that some of his irritation and anger was due to his medication."

Because of the earlier incident, Mark Whittaker was irritated when the bailiff returned with the police officer. "He was protecting his farm and his sick father," said Mr Cauthery.

Mark Whittaker has recently been indulging his passion for banger racing, he added. He has competed in national championships.