Reward offered after golf course damage

THE owner of Norwood Park Golf Course at Southwell is offering a reward of £1,000 for information that leads to a successful prosecution of vandals responsible for damaging the course and equipment.

Vandals used bolt cutters to free golf buggies chained together.

They then drove the carts around the course damaging signs and trees.

One vehicle was dumped in a pond and others in roads around Southwell.

The incident happened in the early hours of June 6.

Sir John Starkey, the owner of Norwood Park, said: “The course has been the target for vandals on two or three occasions causing upwards of £15,000-worth of damage.

They used the buggies like bumper cars and also drove over anything in the way around the course, doing wheelies on the greens.

“The course had 16 buggies at one stage but we are now down to five functioning properly.

"The vandals have smashed windscreens in a number of them and have used screwdrivers to start them.

“By offering a substantial reward for information, I hope it will help Nottinghamshire Police to pinpoint the culprits and to bring about a successful prosecution.”

Sergeant Brendon Hunt, the Safer Neighbourhood team leader for the Sherwood area, said:

“These offences of criminal damage cause annoyance and inconvenience to the victim and in this case at Norwood Park a substantial bill for the repair of the damage done.

"We are determined to stop incidents of vandalism that cause such problems to the community."

Anyone with information that may help should contact Southwell Police Station on 01636 605999 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.