Human mole is out of control

Human mole Raymond Shepherd of Oxenholme, Cumbria, was warned yesterday he faces jail – because he won’t stop digging holes in his garden. The pensioner was hit by a court order forcing him to stop burrowing. Shepherd, 66, was given a 90-day prison sentence, suspended until 2017. He must not shovel earth until then.

The former bus driver’s excavating got out of control after he was given permission to extend his kitchen 20 years ago. His digging caused a nearby footpath to collapse.

He has been locked in a long-running dispute with the council which has sent out workers three times to fill in holes. Some were 3 metres long and 2.5 metres deep.


Shepherd was due in court earlier this week to explain his latest clash with the town hall, but failed to turn up. A warrant was issued for his arrest and he was brought before Judge Peter Hughes, QC, yesterday. He told Shepherd: “I was concerned that you should realise just how serious this is.

I would have been entitled to send you to prison but for the fact that you put matters right.

“You have to comply with this order from now on or you will be sent to prison. In order for you to dig any more holes in your back garden you must get the permission of a court.”