Derbyshire suffer revenge attack

as reported in the Derby Telegraph

REVENGE ON DERBYSHIRE CCC BUT CLUB HAVE IT COVERED ON CCTV


A groundsman sacked at Derbyshire County Cricket Club carried out a “revenge attack” when he slashed the covers and damaged machinery hours before the club were to take to the field.

Chris Hallam caused £3,000 of damage to the pitch at the 3aaa ground in Chaddesden just weeks after being dismissed from his role.


The 33-year-old was recognised on the club’s CCTV pouring a liquid into the fuel tank of the blotter machine, which soaks up water from the grass.

Hallam, of Chaddesden, was also spotted slashing the covers with a knife just hours before the Falcons took on Worcestershire Rapids in a T20 blast match on August 18 in front of thousands of fans.

A spokeswoman for Derbyshire police said: “We were called to the county ground in Derby by staff at Derbyshire County Cricket Club who had recognised a man on its CCTV going on to the pitch and using a blade to slash the covers.

“He was also captured on the footage pouring a liquid in to the fuel tank of the blotter machine at the ground.

“At around 3pm on August 20 we arrested Chris Hallam, who had recently been dismissed as an employee at the club, at his new place of work, the Joiners Arms, in Quarndon.

“He was questioned and did not realise the club had installed CCTV since he had been dismissed and he was charged with criminal damage.”

Hours after Hallam caused the damage, Derbyshire Falcons beat Worcestershire Rapids by 48 runs in the T20 Blast match.

Hallam, of Francis Street, pleaded guilty to criminal damage and was handed an eight-week prison sentence, suspended for a year.

The court was told how it was a “revenge attack” and caused “significant damage” at the ground.

A spokesman for Derbyshire County Cricket Club would not say why Hallam had been sacked, how bad the full extent of the damage was, how long it took to repair or the total repair cost.

He said: “The Club will not be making any comment on this matter.”

Hallam was also handed a 12-week curfew, confining him to his Chaddesden home between 1am and 8am each day.

Magistrates also ordered him to pay £3,000 compensation to Derbyshire County Cricket Club for the damage he caused.

The Derby Telegraph has twice been to Hallam’s address to see if he had any comment or apology to make to the club for his actions but there was no answer.

We have also been to The Joiner’s Arms pub, in Quarndon and where Hallam worked after being dismissed from the cricket club and where he was arrested two days after he caused the damage.

They confirmed that he no longer worked there and did not wish to make any further comment.