Disturbing CCTV footage reveals hotel boss’s shocking actions–what happens next?
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A shocking incident unfolded in a quiet Cornish village, leaving locals and authorities reeling.
What started as a simple trip to a wellness retreat quickly spiralled into a bizarre and disturbing sequence of events.
The aftermath of the incident has sparked outrage and questions about accountability and behaviour in the community.
A hotel boss's trip to Cornwall ended in disgrace after a series of disturbing events.
Matthew Howarth, the hotel director from Windermere, had attended a wellness retreat in Bude before visiting the village of Stratton.
It was in this quiet village where Howarth was caught on CCTV urinating on fruit and vegetables at the Stratton Stores village shop.
The footage showed him relieving himself on parsnips, nectarines, and potatoes, which were stored for future sale.
David Shepherd, the owner of the shop, was informed of Howarth's erratic behaviour by his staff.
According to Shepherd, Howarth had been seen walking around the village after consuming several gins at a nearby pub.
Staff had already expressed concern, with one calling Shepherd to ask if the shop should close due to his troubling behaviour.
Shepherd recalled that Howarth had previously been acting strangely near a local hairdresser and had been slurring his words when speaking to passers-by.
When Shepherd arrived at the shop, Howarth was seen leaving and getting into his car.
Fearing for his safety, Shepherd followed him, calling the police as he did.
Howarth’s erratic driving became evident as he swerved between lanes, drove on the wrong side of the road, and stopped in the middle of streets.
Shepherd stayed on the phone with the police, who eventually arrested Howarth after he drove into a cul-de-sac.
After the arrest, Shepherd reviewed the CCTV footage, concerned that his staff may have been harassed by Howarth.
Instead, he was horrified to see the hotel boss urinating on the produce stored outside the shop.
‘He had just left a pub with a toilet and there is a toilet block just 50 metres from the shop,’ Shepherd noted, questioning Howarth’s state.
‘How drunk have you got to be? It was broad daylight at around 5:30 pm in the evening. I mean we have all been drunk but never anything like that.’
Fortunately, Shepherd had checked the CCTV, as the produce was set to be sold to customers.
‘We had seen that the boxes were wet, but we didn’t think it would have been wee. It is good we checked,’ Shepherd added.
Howarth was later fined £2,237, which included £42 in compensation for the ruined produce.
He admitted to drink-driving and criminal damage at Truro Magistrates' Court.
Howarth was banned from driving for 46 months, his second such offence in 10 years.
‘I have trouble with alcohol,’ Howarth told the court.
‘I have not drunk since this incident. I was at a wellness retreat but things did not work out. I apologise, I admit fault.’
The Justice of the Peace made it clear that Howarth’s behaviour was appalling.
‘Your utterly vile offending is one of the most disgusting things we have heard in this courtroom,’ they said.
‘Professional people in this room, their faces were horrified by your offending. We don’t want people coming down to our county acting in such a disgusting way.’
Echoing these sentiments, Shepherd said that Howarth should have respected the county ‘like his home’.
‘I would never allow him back in here,’ Shepherd said, emphasising the gravity of the situation.
In a previous story, we covered another disturbing incident involving a food delivery driver.
The act left locals in disbelief and sparked outrage across the community.
Source: Source: Youtube/7News
To find out more, click here to read the full details.
How do you think communities should handle such disturbing behaviour from public figures? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.
What started as a simple trip to a wellness retreat quickly spiralled into a bizarre and disturbing sequence of events.
The aftermath of the incident has sparked outrage and questions about accountability and behaviour in the community.
A hotel boss's trip to Cornwall ended in disgrace after a series of disturbing events.
Matthew Howarth, the hotel director from Windermere, had attended a wellness retreat in Bude before visiting the village of Stratton.
It was in this quiet village where Howarth was caught on CCTV urinating on fruit and vegetables at the Stratton Stores village shop.
Hotel boss caught urinating on produce in Cornwall shop. Image source: Matthew Howarth
The footage showed him relieving himself on parsnips, nectarines, and potatoes, which were stored for future sale.
David Shepherd, the owner of the shop, was informed of Howarth's erratic behaviour by his staff.
According to Shepherd, Howarth had been seen walking around the village after consuming several gins at a nearby pub.
Staff had already expressed concern, with one calling Shepherd to ask if the shop should close due to his troubling behaviour.
Shepherd recalled that Howarth had previously been acting strangely near a local hairdresser and had been slurring his words when speaking to passers-by.
When Shepherd arrived at the shop, Howarth was seen leaving and getting into his car.
Fearing for his safety, Shepherd followed him, calling the police as he did.
Howarth’s erratic driving became evident as he swerved between lanes, drove on the wrong side of the road, and stopped in the middle of streets.
Shepherd stayed on the phone with the police, who eventually arrested Howarth after he drove into a cul-de-sac.
After the arrest, Shepherd reviewed the CCTV footage, concerned that his staff may have been harassed by Howarth.
Instead, he was horrified to see the hotel boss urinating on the produce stored outside the shop.
‘He had just left a pub with a toilet and there is a toilet block just 50 metres from the shop,’ Shepherd noted, questioning Howarth’s state.
‘How drunk have you got to be? It was broad daylight at around 5:30 pm in the evening. I mean we have all been drunk but never anything like that.’
Fortunately, Shepherd had checked the CCTV, as the produce was set to be sold to customers.
‘We had seen that the boxes were wet, but we didn’t think it would have been wee. It is good we checked,’ Shepherd added.
Howarth was later fined £2,237, which included £42 in compensation for the ruined produce.
He admitted to drink-driving and criminal damage at Truro Magistrates' Court.
Howarth was banned from driving for 46 months, his second such offence in 10 years.
‘I have trouble with alcohol,’ Howarth told the court.
‘I have not drunk since this incident. I was at a wellness retreat but things did not work out. I apologise, I admit fault.’
The Justice of the Peace made it clear that Howarth’s behaviour was appalling.
‘Your utterly vile offending is one of the most disgusting things we have heard in this courtroom,’ they said.
‘Professional people in this room, their faces were horrified by your offending. We don’t want people coming down to our county acting in such a disgusting way.’
Echoing these sentiments, Shepherd said that Howarth should have respected the county ‘like his home’.
‘I would never allow him back in here,’ Shepherd said, emphasising the gravity of the situation.
In a previous story, we covered another disturbing incident involving a food delivery driver.
The act left locals in disbelief and sparked outrage across the community.
Source: Source: Youtube/7News
To find out more, click here to read the full details.
How do you think communities should handle such disturbing behaviour from public figures? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.
