Holme: Has mystery mower moaner turned to sabotage?

An anonymous person, believed to be a villager, complained about the noise after Malcolm Starr cut his four-acre paddock at Holme, near Hunstanton in early May.

It triggered an investigation by West Norfolk council, which later said there was no case to answer.

Malcolm Starr at work on his ride-on mower (Image: Chris Bishop)

Now, Mr Starr has found lengths of rope left in the grass on his property - which he believes were left deliberately to damage his mower.

He narrowly avoided getting almost 90ft of the 1cm-dia sisal cord caught on his cutter, which had been laid along a track on his boundary.

"If it had gone into the mower it would have done some damage," he said.

Malcolm Starr with the rope he believes was laid in the grass to damage his mower (Image: Chris Bishop)

"I didn't think anything of it the first time, but it's the second time it's happened."

Mr Starr, who has lived in Holme for 10 years, has previously had a gate on his property secured by numerous padlocks.

Environmental health officials were recently sent to investigate complaints over a bonfire on his property, before deciding there were no issues.

While he does not know who is behind the complaints, he believes someone has it in for him in the village, with its leafy lanes leading off the coast road.

Malcolm Starr at work on his mower on his field at Holme (Image: Chris Bishop)

"There are a lot of people in this village from various professions," he said. 

"I don't know if there's a psychiatrist who can help this person."

Mr Starr has also been forced to take down a sign advertising his holiday let business after being threatened with legal action because he did not have the right permission.