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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to call the police about this?

32 replies

Rosiesmydog · 10/08/2021 15:31

So, I live in a lovely, friendly neighbourhood but there’s always one whose a twat isn’t there? A friend and I were preparing to cross the road (very quiet, cul de sac) when our neighbourhood twat came out of his house and got into his car. I had my year old retriever on the lead and my friend was shepherding my 15 year retriever across the road. Twat saw us, but regardless, started backing his car stopping us and my friend had to grab my old dog to stop her from being run over! I yelled at him and may have actually called him a twat, but he ignored us and drove away.

Been getting increasingly angry at how he was…he could easily have mown my poor dog down or even us. Do I notify the police or is keying his car tonight a reasonable thing to do? Obviously the last sentence is tongue in cheek but I really feel like doing it

OP posts:
Hekatestorch · 10/08/2021 15:35

Not sure what the police can do with just your say so that he backed out unsafely. Although, maybe they do?

But you have my sympathy. Our 'one twat' has spent the last 3 hours revving his engine and its making popping noises reasons he is fixing it but has been doing the same a couple time a week for months.

I am guessing you could only really keep reporting his anti social behaviour.

Original poster
Rosiesmydog · 10/08/2021 15:37

Just to clarify, he was parked on the road, not on his drive. He backed up so he could swing round in another cul de sac and turn around. He was totally aware that we were crossing because he gave us evils!

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OverTheRubicon · 10/08/2021 15:39

Do you own? If so, you'll have to declare neighbor disputes when you sell, and this seems an upsetting but frankly not worthy reason to do that, given that it would be very hard to prove anything or have any real consequence for him, and it wouldn't likely improve anything for you. I'm sorry he's a twat, and glad your dog's ok.

Original poster
Rosiesmydog · 10/08/2021 15:43

@OverTheRubicon

Do you own? If so, you'll have to declare neighbor disputes when you sell, and this seems an upsetting but frankly not worthy reason to do that, given that it would be very hard to prove anything or have any real consequence for him, and it wouldn't likely improve anything for you. I'm sorry he's a twat, and glad your dog's ok.
He doesn’t live in the same street…I imagine his immediate neighbours would have to own up to living by a twat tho,
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icedcoffees · 10/08/2021 15:57

Was the older dog on a lead? It's not clear from your post as you only mention the younger one being on lead.

Obviously his behaviour isn't acceptable but if the dog was wandering about off-lead, there's every chance he didn't realise she was behind his car.

kikipie · 10/08/2021 16:05

Your dogs should have been under your control, not able to be run over unless he’d have run you down too.

Original poster
Rosiesmydog · 10/08/2021 16:18

@icedcoffees

Was the older dog on a lead? It's not clear from your post as you only mention the younger one being on lead.

Obviously his behaviour isn't acceptable but if the dog was wandering about off-lead, there's every chance he didn't realise she was behind his car.

Yes, my friend had the older dog. I jumped out of the way, but Rosie was just bumbling along and my friend had to pull her away
OP posts:
icedcoffees · 10/08/2021 16:36

Ah okay - apologies, it wasn't clear from your post :)

In that case, he was an idiot!

Kinneddar · 10/08/2021 16:39

To be honest there's nothing the Police can do. He didn't commit any offence, he's a twat but unfortunately that's not an illegal.

Hont1986 · 10/08/2021 16:51

Maybe he thought that you would be waiting for him? I'm not sure how long you need to prepare to cross the road, but apparently it was long enough to watch him leave his house, get in his car, and drive off?
Whatever it was, I don't think I would bother the police with this.

nothingcanhurtmewithmyeyesshut · 10/08/2021 17:02

Nothing the police will do but I'd key it. Make sure he doesn't have a dashcam and make sure you get every panel. It pales in comparison to what I'd do to him if he hit my dog.

Original poster
Rosiesmydog · 10/08/2021 17:06

@Hont1986

Maybe he thought that you would be waiting for him? I'm not sure how long you need to prepare to cross the road, but apparently it was long enough to watch him leave his house, get in his car, and drive off? Whatever it was, I don't think I would bother the police with this.
He got into his car, just as we started to cross. Most people would pull off forward. As he was reversing, it’s his responsibility to ensure his path is clear and there aren’t two humans with dogs in his path
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Comedycook · 10/08/2021 17:07

I'd be absolutely amazed if the police were interested in this

anon12345anon · 10/08/2021 17:22

The Police won't be interested, but he sounds like a complete and utter twat.

LittleLadyCece · 10/08/2021 17:33

This is a civil matter which the police will have no interest in I'm afraid and won't deal with it. Yes he's a twat I'm sorry he nearly ran over the dog Flowers

Kite22 · 10/08/2021 17:40

Bit difficult to picture, tbh. You say you were preparing to cross, when he started getting in his car - so how come you weren't safely on the otherside by the time he was reversing ?
If his engine were on, then why would you leave the pavement?

It all sounds far too "in my opinion" or "in my judgement" for there to be any wrongdoing to be proven even if there were a police officer or other independent witness watching the whole thing.

Without being there, none of us can say - and that is what the police would say.
The police are completely overstretched and under resourced. Obviously a lot of that is cut backs and lack of funding, but a large part of it is people wasting police time, too.

WorraLiberty · 10/08/2021 17:44

The police wouldn't come out for this even if you had video footage

ChainJane · 10/08/2021 17:54

He got into his car, just as we started to cross.

I don't get this. How wide is the street and how long does it take you to cross? If someone gets into their car as you start to cross you should have a good ten seconds before they've put seatbelt on, started engine, and begun to move. Unless it's a classic Le Mans-style start where the engine's running already?

Kinneddar · 10/08/2021 17:54

Nothing the police will do but I'd key it

Yeah so you would 🙄

Original poster
Rosiesmydog · 10/08/2021 17:57

@anon12345anon

The Police won't be interested, but he sounds like a complete and utter twat.
Keying the car it is then!!
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Original poster
Rosiesmydog · 10/08/2021 18:04

@ChainJane

He got into his car, just as we started to cross.

I don't get this. How wide is the street and how long does it take you to cross? If someone gets into their car as you start to cross you should have a good ten seconds before they've put seatbelt on, started engine, and begun to move. Unless it's a classic Le Mans-style start where the engine's running already?

The street isn’t wide, but a 15 year old retriever doesn’t walk very fast. I started to cross because I assumed he’d go forward!
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CaMePlaitPas · 10/08/2021 18:08

What crime did he commit? What did he do that was illegal? Is there anything here that the Crown Prosecution Service can use to build a compelling case against him to bring him to trial?

He's a dickhead, but as someone has already said that's not a crime.

BackAffYaSpookyBint · 10/08/2021 18:09

Yabu for not including pictures of said dogs!
Love old dogs, he was being a twat but I don't think police will be interested.
Next time you're poo picking and walking past his car, do be careful not to wipe poo on his door handles! -lighthearted- 😁

LaBellina · 10/08/2021 18:11

He can just claim he didn’t see your dog and it’s your word against his. I would put some dog shit in front of his front door so he steps in it next time he comes out - joking obviously.

Original poster
Rosiesmydog · 10/08/2021 18:29

@CaMePlaitPas

What crime did he commit? What did he do that was illegal? Is there anything here that the Crown Prosecution Service can use to build a compelling case against him to bring him to trial?

He's a dickhead, but as someone has already said that's not a crime.

Bit dramatic… I’ve no intention of trying to prosecute him or anything! But he WAS driving with no due care or attention.

Just to clarify the situation as some of you seem to think I’m in the wrong here. Rosie, the old dog had started to cross with my friend. I was at the kerb making the pup sit before crossing. Twat got into his car, immediately started the engine and immediately reversed. Cue my friend dragging Rosie away from the back end of his rapidly reversing car

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