Neighbour seems to think he has the right to jump our fence

[Twatforaneighbour]

We moved in about 3 years ago and put up a fence on top of an existing low height wall (which we own) across the front of our front garden which has a footpath the other side. We got planning to do this.

One of our neighbours had an issue with this, because his adult son (early 20s) liked to walk across our front garden and hop over our wall to save him from walking around. He put in a complaint when we went for planning saying that if the fence went up, we would need to make it safe as his son would be climbing over! The council made no comment on this.

This has made it inconvenient for him as it adds 5 mins walking time to walk down the road and up the public footpath. Since the fence went up, we clarified with the neighbour (the dad) that this was our property and our fence/wall, to make 100% sure there was no misunderstanding with who owns what, which he agreed.

We have now got video from our ring doorbell of "someone" walking across our garden and jumping the fence. It is unlikely to be anyone else as we are at the end if a small road.

What would you do? Trespassing is not a criminal offence. So far we cannot for sure identify the person as it was at night and not a great image.

They obviously see no issue with doing it so speaking to them wont help, Considered anti climb spikes but have seen you can be liable if trespasser gets injured on your property.
WIBU to get spikes if I put a warning with it?
Any suggestions? If he keeps doing it, it will end in damage to the fence and probably us paying for it

Anti-climb paint! (with a clear warning sign)

Marmite all over the top of the fence.

Sprinkler system?

There’s a guy on tiktok in America who has a similar problem with people cutting across his lawn, he installed automatic sprinklers so every time someone walked on it they’d get drenched Maybe a security light and alarm or something if someone triggers it by walking across it?

Thorny pyracantha hedge.

I’d put up a higher fence. I think 7ft is allowed?

Motion activated sprinkler hidden in some bushes.

Plant some roses. Not sure if this is the right time to plant them though...pick a super thorny one.

Diagram! Please… so we can picture the set up

Thin crappy trellis that won't support their weight and anti climb paint.

I feel your pain - recently had words with my neighbour who feels it's OK to use my driveway without asking permission.
Plant something with massive thorns along the fence. Alternatively, you could swap the fence for trellis, so that it's just too flimsy for the son to climb over.

Higher fence, sprinklers…animal poop (you can buy a big bag of horse manure). Sprinkle it all along the garden/fence. Fertiliser right?

@Tinkywinkydinkydoo

There’s a guy on tiktok in America who has a similar problem with people cutting across his lawn, he installed automatic sprinklers so every time someone walked on it they’d get drenched Maybe a security light and alarm or something if someone triggers it by walking across it?

I love that video! Do this OP, its hilarious and also might get him to not be such a twat. Move the sprinklers around so he can't dodge them too

Anti vandal paint.

We had awful trouble with local kids getting onto our roof at work - this stopped it overnight.

Though we did when an irate parent actually thought we should replace their little dahling's ruined jeans.......... we tried to point out that the roof was tin, old and they would probably die if they fell through it so it was for their good and not ours that we'd used it.

How big is your front garden that it adds 5 minutes to a journey to walk around it?!

Big old pond just under the point the cf jumps the fence.
And great for the local wildlife. What's not to like?

@GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat

How big is your front garden that it adds 5 minutes to a journey to walk around it?!

Our garden isnt big at all, but as we are at the end of a road that runs parallel to the footpath, to access the footpath he has to walk in the opposite direction, down the road and out onto the footpath and back up past on the other side of the fence.

will do a diagram...

Did consider anti climb paint but you have to put clear signs which the whole front of our house looks out onto as the fence is opposite, not the most aesthetic!

I was on your side until I read that it takes the neighbour an extra five minutes to walk round. That adds up to a lot of wasted time. I’m not surprised he jumps the fence when he thinks you’re not looking.

Alongside the other suggestions here, think about getting another camera. I have two, one inside each of my front windows. They track movement and record (I do have appropriate signage up) and the footage is good enough quality that you would be able to identify people on it. It's been remarkable or maybe not that surprising that since I installed the cameras, I don't have any more dog shit in my garden.

You could try a solicitor's letter?

@Cattenberg, are you serious?

[quote mineofuselessinformation]@Cattenberg, are you serious? [/quote]
There is always one!!

Ask your local stables for a few sacks of muck, put a flower bed along the fence and a nice thick layer to rot down over the winter.