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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not understand his point of view at all?

48 replies

MmmWhatchaSay · 01/01/2020 14:37

Neighbours child entered our backyard looking for his drone. He found it and upon leaving tripped over a wobbly slab in our garden. Scuffed his knee and broke his drone. Very sad for child.

His father has just been at the door saying it was our responsibility to replace the drone as we had a wobbly slab in our garden which is dangerous Hmm

I explained that actually his child had entered our garden without permission, and accidents do happen. He said we weren’t home, to which I replied that they should have waited - we were out for 20 minutes.

Anyway, neighbour gets angry and says if we don’t replace it he’s going to sue, I told him he’d been watching too much American TV and shut the door.

Now I’m not stupid. I know I’m not unreasonable or responsible for the drone my question is how can he think I am?! Does he really, or is he just trying his luck?

OP posts:
MrsSpenserGregson · 01/01/2020 14:38

Either he's trying his luck, or he is really, really, really stupid and self-entitled like a lot of people

What a knob

2020BetterBeBetter · 01/01/2020 14:41

I reckon he just wanted to be in the running for the CF of 2020! Grin

ohprettybaby · 01/01/2020 14:41

What an utter idiot. No court would order you to pay him to replace the drone. He's probably just angry because it has been broken but that isn't your fault.

ringme · 01/01/2020 14:43

He’s a CF...ignore. What’s prick.

Dipsydoodle · 01/01/2020 14:43

Think we have the first CF of 2020 here!

Someonesayroadtrip · 01/01/2020 14:43

The sad reality is I think it's possible to sue for injury and loss caused on someone else's property. Even in the UK. How old is the child?

It would be a hard one, I doubt they would pursue it, after all is illegal to trespass and it's actually illegal to fly drones without a license and insurance which he clearly didn't have. But, I'm not sure how that all plays out in a civil action. You could potentially counter sue for invasion of privacy, after all he enter your property with a camera and filmed your property.

However, I'm not a lawyer, so it is mostly speculation. But unfortunately people die get sued even in the UK for this sort of thing.

ringme · 01/01/2020 14:43

*what a prick!!

Chamomileteaplease · 01/01/2020 14:44

Yeah, it's scary just how stupid some people are.

Leflic · 01/01/2020 14:44

My guess would be he disappointed that his sons best present has been ruined within days and is looking to mitigate that somehow.
I expect once he gets over the disappointment for his son he’ll be back to normal with you.

CoffeeCoinneseur · 01/01/2020 14:44

One of those knobheads that thinks anger and intimidation gets results.

God knows what he's like with his own kids, that poor lad has probably had a proper bollocking.

NotTheMrMenAgain · 01/01/2020 14:45

He's a dickhead, simple!

VanGoghsDog · 01/01/2020 14:46

There's nothing to say there was filming and it's not illegal to fly toy drives without a license.

YappityYapYap · 01/01/2020 14:52

Go to the door and ask if he registered his son to fly the drone. I would bet my house that he never! Anyone that is going to fly a drone must take a theory test online and if they're under 13, they have to register with a parent or carer and they must supervise them the whole time they are using it. Considering that his son went into your garden instead of his dad, I would imagine that his dad was not supervising

Someonesayroadtrip · 01/01/2020 15:01

Sorry can tag you Van. There was legislation in November 2019 which states you need a licence and insurance.

There isn't evidence of filming but 1. You are not allowed within 50m of others properties and 2. You can prove he wasn't either. Unless the device isn't capable which is unlikely then the fact it has the possibility is still an invasion of privacy. It's like looking through someone's window with your eyes closed.

But like I say, I'm not a lawyer. We have a drone though, and my husband used to have aviation licence for model planes (I know he was a geek), so we have followed thing, or at least he has. We don't fly our drone currently due to the new legislation which I actually agree with. So many people are irresponsible with drones, it should never have been a toy to be begin with.

www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/nov/05/drone-registration-made-compulsory-as-uk-scheme-launches

Original poster
MmmWhatchaSay · 01/01/2020 15:02

Grin I won’t be going round or counter suing that’s for sure - in my view he’s made a bit of a tit of himself but he will live and so will I. I don’t want to start neighbour wars as my neighbours currently are polite but not overly involved and that is my idea of a perfect neighbour.

I’m just musing at his train of thought.

Child is about 7/8 I would guess.

OP posts:
Someonesayroadtrip · 01/01/2020 15:08

I guess his train of thought is he is annoyed an expensive present has been broken and he is looking for someone to blame. Of course that's not you though.

OoohTheStatsDontLie · 01/01/2020 15:10

Hi OP

Actually if a child trips on your land even if they are trespassing, there may be a duty of care towards them (as it is reasonably foreseeable that kids will get where they're not supposed to - this is one reason why building sites are fully fenced off etc). However I think they can only use for injury and not damage to property. So if he had broken his leg then they may have a case but I am pretty sure they cant sue for damage to a drone and even if they weren't trespassing, it's not easily foreseeable that a loose slab would lead to a broken drone. Ans I think they would struggle even more if legislation says drones shouldn't be there

SmudgeButt · 01/01/2020 15:21

If it was me i'd ignore the dad and talk to the child if possible. Explain why he shouldn't have come on to your property without permission. what if you had a big dog that might have bit him? Or a flock of geese that might have escaped from the garden??? once he understands and realises that you aren't mad at him maybe you could agree to find a way to buy a new drone by him doing age appropriate chores for a time period and then you will contribute £X towards his dad getting him a new drone.

MereDintofPandiculation · 01/01/2020 15:23

If he does carry his threat through, see if you have legal insurance included in your house insurance.

VanGoghsDog · 01/01/2020 15:25

There was legislation in November 2019 which states you need a licence

Nope. Even the link you posted doesn't say that. You have to register and pass a theory test. It's £9. So to jump to the conclusion that the perp hasn't done that and that they are filming is bizarre.

And while you're not allowed within a certain range of certain things in some circumstances it was probably just an accident.

I agree with you though that the things are a menace and should never have been toys at all.

Oysterbabe · 01/01/2020 15:29

You'll probably be OK but it's not as clear cut as you think. You do have a legal duty of care to trespassers under the Occupiers Liability Act 1984.

yellowallpaper · 01/01/2020 15:32

The people saying you have a duty of care even to trespassers are correct, but it's only for personal injury not property and I doubt a scuffed knee counts for much. It's because most homeowners have household insurance and it would be worth suing. It's a weird world.

yellowallpaper · 01/01/2020 15:33

If you're worried (I wouldn't be) then your home insurer will advise you

KatherineJaneway · 01/01/2020 15:33

Ignore him, uneducated arse.

BenjiB · 01/01/2020 15:34

You don’t need a licence if the drone 8s under a certain weight. He’s an idiot. Mid ignore,