DOG walker Jenny Clarke was stunned to be told by a police officer she was in danger of getting a criminal record after being filmed moving a plastic roll of fence to exercise her pet.

The retired social worker from St Margaret’s Mead, Marlborough, was baffled she had been captured on a ‘spy cam’ at the community owned Stonebridge Meadow, and a complaint had been made against her to police.

The 71-year-old is also in disbelief that a camera hidden on a tree, was filming her instead of wildlife in the meadow owned by charity Action for the River Kennet and Marlborough Town Council.

She knew the CCTV was there and admits rolling up the fence on a handful of occasions so her dog Hamish, 12, could paddle in the River Kennet, but it never crossed her mind what she was doing could result in police action.

Miss Clarke, who walks Hamish there twice a day, was led to believe the partition of fencing was only necessary to allow new grass to grow, which was planted earlier this year, and would be removed by June.

So when she noticed two weeks ago the fence was still there, despite the grass flourishing and the council coming to cut it, she thought to was doing no harm by rolling it up so members of the community could see the new grass, reed beds and ponds in all their glory.

“The next thing I know I’ve got the police on my doorstep,” she said. “The officer said ‘you came up on the camera rolling the fence up’ and you need to stop. If you keep doing it, it could be taken further and you could get a criminal record'.”

Having lived in the town for 50 years she has spoken to ARK and councillors before, so was disappointed nobody contacted her and the situation was escalated straight to the police.

“I didn’t destroy or cut anything,” she added. “I couldn’t see the value of this piece of fence because you could get round the other side anyway and it’s such an eyesore.”

Miss Clarke has also criticised the fact the camera has been used as a tool for filming people.

She added: “It’s a community area and it should be for everyone, it shouldn’t have a camera up there, feeling like Big Brother is watching you.”

Director of ARK Charlotte Hitchmough said: “We have several wildlife cameras around the wild river reserve, and have had for several years.

“They are triggered by motion and used to help us to identify which wildlife is using the meadow. We have seen images of otters, herons, moorhens and dabchicks recently.

“By chance a camera captured video images of the orange safety fence being taken down and removed repeatedly.

“Fortunately the last stage of the work is due to start on Monday, and everyone will have full access to the meadow again after the boardwalk and pond dipping platforms are complete. The exact date of opening will be agreed by Marlborough Town Council and ARK.”