To my horror, after extensive damage to my 250 year old gates, which were open at the time of an accident at the entrance to a private road, and a tractor trailer driver refusing to give me his details, the police said they could only release his full details from his number plate details I gave if it occurred on a public road. The Road Traffic Act simply does not apply.

I hesitate to let this be widely known as criminals could get away with doing serious damage to a home and its occupants. My insurer could possibly find and chase him but, as I have a very high excess on my policy and they will increase my next years premium, I will have to bear the cost myself, having just paid £650 to restore these gates. Is there any other route I can take to find and prosecute? Also do you know why the law is of no use in this case? After all, a criminal act is the same wherever it is enacted. Frustratingly, at the point of contact more than 50 per cent of the tractor and trailer was actually on the public road.