Pranksters give scarecrow creators that sinking feeling, Teesdale Mercury

Pranksters give scarecrow creators that sinking feeling

Jun 23, 2009

THREE decorated scarecrows are feared “kidnapped” after they disappeared from a Teesdale village at the weekend.

The scarecrows were made by residents of Cotherstone ahead of the village’s annual scarecrow competition this weekend.

The straw-filled versions of Kate Winslet and Leonardo

DiCaprio’s characters from the film Titanic and a Count Dracula scarecrow were taken overnight on Sunday.

The seafaring duo were taken from the bow of a model Titanic in Station Terrace, between 9pm on Sunday and 7am on Monday.

The display was made by Russell Whiting and his fiancée Angela Spark, with help from their children Robert, two, and nine-month-old Alice.

Mr Whiting got that sinking feeling when he realised that Kate and Leo had disappeared.

“I’m gutted – it is a horrendous thing for people to do,” he said.

“You put in the time and the effort and people feel they can just come along and destroy it. I don’t know what anyone would want them for.”

The specially constructed bow and the two scarecrows took many hours to make, at a cost of more than £30.  

And the display was completed only hours before the scarecrows were taken.

Undeterred by the theft, Mr Whiting and Ms Spark have since replaced the missing scarecrows with a new Kate and Leonardo.

The Dracula scarecrow was last seen outside the village hall at 9.30pm on Sunday.  By 10pm he had flown off into the night.

The missing scarecrows were among about 40 made for a movie-themed competition at the Cotherstone Fun Weekend.

“Everybody is a bit annoyed because they have put a lot of work into making them,” said organiser Jenny Watson.

“The worst thing is that children have been involved in making scarecrows in the village and people who take them don’t even consider that – why would anyone do this?”

Acting Sergeant Dan Reed of Barnard Castle Police said he believed the scarecrows had been kidnapped.

“We are not presently treating this as a crime but are keeping an open mind as to the motives of those responsible.  

“We believe the missing scarecrows are being cared for and have been temporarily ‘kidnapped’ – we are confident they will be returned or will reappear in time for judging.

“We are making enquiries into their whereabouts as the disappearances are unfair to those
having put time, effort and money into making and displaying them.”

However, if the scarecrows aren’t returned, someone could have their collar felt by the long arm of the straw.

“Should the speedy recovery of them not take place then we will treat this as a crime of theft,” said Acting Sgt Reed.
Ms Winslet is described as wearing a beige silk dress and a large shiny blue necklace, with blonde wool hair and a big smile.

The brown-haired Mr DiCaprio, wore black jeans and a stripy shirt.

Anyone with any information on their whereabouts, or those of the Count, should contact Barnard Castle Police on 0345 6060365. Mr Whiting is also offering a small cash reward for his scarecrows’ return.

Do you know the whereabouts of the Cotherstone Three? Call the Mercury on 01833 633620.