A Bournemouth man has been sentenced to a 12-month community order for obstructing and abusing a speed camera operator.
On Tuesday, 29th October 2024, a camera operator was stationed in a layby on the A348 Ringwood Road in Ferndown, where 45 people have been injured since 2019.
A van pulled in front of the camera vehicle, obstructing its view. When asked to move, the driver refused and verbally abused the operator before leaving the scene.
Following an investigation, the driver was identified and later appeared at Poole Magistrates’ Court on 20th March 2025.
61-year-old Richard Frank Arnold of Mount Road, Bournemouth, pleaded guilty to obstructing an accredited person and using threatening language. He was sentenced to a 12-month community order with 120 hours of unpaid work and ordered to pay compensation and costs totalling £499.
Police Sergeant Gareth Thomas of the No Excuse Team emphasised the importance of the Safety Camera Team’s work in preventing road casualties and confirmed that abuse towards its members will not be tolerated.