Drunken Farmer Posed As Cop On Wimbledon Common

A drunken farmer repeatedly posed as a police officer on Wimbledon Common, even attaching a flashing blue lamp to his 4x4 during a bizarre obsession last summer, a court heard.

Marc Peter Dailly, 58, left his 142-acre property, which is also home to his wife’s horse livery stables, and drove up the A3 to the common in south-west London.

Yesterday at Wimbledon Magistrates Court Dailly, of Slough Farm, Telegraph Lane, Claygate, Esher pleaded guilty to three counts of impersonating a police officer on June 24; July 15 and July 19, last year.

He also pleaded guilty to using his Mitsubishi Shogun, which was fitted with a blue warning beacon, contrary to the Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations, on July 19.

The prosecution dropped an offensive weapon charge of possessing a police-style baton, submitting it was part of the main three impersonating offences.

Prosecutor Mr David Roberts told the court the alarm was raised on July 19: “Police were called to reports of the defendant driving a vehicle on Wimbledon Common, claiming to be a police officer.

“The police officers say he was drunk, slurring his words and produced a card, claiming to be a police officer.

“There were two other earlier incidents when a parks officer warned the defendant about having a vehicle with a flashing light.”

The arresting officers describe Dailly - who also has a background in veterinary farming - as “driving erratically and at speed.”

Mr Roberts explained: “The defendant introduced himself as ‘the Chief Inspector’ and admitted he had ‘one or two’.

“He was also in possession of a police-style baton that the Crown Prosecution Service say is part of the charge of impersonating a police officer.”

Dailly was separately prosecuted for drink-driving at three times the limit and last year was fined £500 and disqualified for two years.

The court heard Dailly has had personal struggles and read a letter from his wife before bailing him until April 8 for a pre-sentence report.