Pro golfer convicted of driving into neighbour in gardening row

An OBE-winning former professional golfer who helped paved the way for women in the sport has said her life is 'at an end' after she was convicted of deliberately driving into a neighbour in a gardening dispute.

Vivian Saunders OBE, 77, best known for winning the Women's British Open in 1977, pushed Jill Beresford-Ambridge - who was on crutches - with her Mercedes 4x4 'more than once', a court heard.

She had been convicted last year but appealed - before a court last week upheld the decision, prompting Saunders to lash out at the justice system.

In August 2022 she had been called to Abbotsley Country Homes in St Neots, Cambridgshire after a neighbour told her they were unhappy with gardening being carried out by residents.

The court heard she edged her vehicle close to residents, who were standing in the road while helping to maintain the gardens there, before driving into Ms Beresford-Ambridge.

Her first trial was held at Peterborough Magistrates' Court last November and in July, Saunders launched an appeal against her conviction.

She was again found guilty of common assault following a two-day retrial at Cambridge Crown Court on September 26 and 27 this year.

Speaking outside court, Saunders said: 'Life is in fact at an end when you have a criminal conviction; you may as well crawl up in to the ground.

'If I want to play an international golf match in America in two years' time, I may not be able to go.

'The whole ramifications of a criminal conviction are disastrous.'

On August 3, 2022, Saunders was driving her Mercedes 4x4 into Abbotsley Country Homes, close to Abbotsley Golf Course which Saunders owns.

Saunders is a freeholder of the exclusive gated development which is home to a mix of houses and Norwegian log holiday lodges. 

A group of residents were helping with the gardens in the development but one neighbour, Robert Verdier, was unhappy about the work taking place.

The court heard he phoned Saunders, who agreed to come to the site. Upon arrival, she edged her 4x4 close to the residents carrying out gardening works.

As she edged closer, three of them, including Mr Verdier, moved out of the way.

Jill Beresford-Ambridge, who was on crutches and filming the incident on her iPad, remained in the road and was pushed by Saunders' vehicle.

On the witness stand, she explained they were filming the gardening work as there had been ongoing difficulties with Mr Verdier.

When being cross-examined about Saunders' car coming closer towards her, she said: 'I was terrified as she didn't stop.

'She gave me a push, and then another push... I was really nervous she wasn't going to stop and was going to put me on the floor.

'[Saunders] absolutely 100 percent made physical contact. She pushed me more than once.'

In the dashcam footage, Saunders shouts phrases such as 'get out of the way you silly woman' and 'move to the side' repeatedly at Mrs Beresford-Ambridge.

The police were called and arrested Saunders who says she handed over the dashcam footage from her vehicle for the investigation.

The court heard there is a bitter dispute between Saunders and the lodge owners involving High Court proceedings and the civil courts.

Saunders - a qualified solicitor who represented herself - said she drove to Abbotsley Country Homes when Mr Verdier called her in a distressed state.

She suggested Ms Beresford-Ambridge continued to film what was going on after the incident 'to create mayhem' because of the legal action.

Throughout the trial, she insisted her vehicle didn't make contact and this was echoed by Mr Verdier who appeared as a witness in court behind a screen.

Saunders explained she qualified as a solicitor 43 years ago, has been a member of Mensa for 50 years and is a former Women's British Open golf champion.

She also wore her OBE throughout the retrial.

In the witness stand, she said: 'There is no question... I did not touch [Mrs Beresford-Ambridge] or come into contact with her or her sticks.'

She later reiterated: 'I am an intelligent person and I didn't do it.'

Saunders also questioned police officers on their approach to evidence gathering including the six weeks she waited for her mobile phone to be returned.

The officers from Cambridgeshire Police explained their investigation was thorough and carried out within a reasonable timeframe.

When delivering her verdict, Recorder Nash said the dashcam footage showed contact had happened with Mrs Beresford-Ambridge and it 'nudged her backwards'.

She said: 'The contact was deliberate and was to force Jill Beresford-Ambridge to move out of the path of the motor vehicle.

'The offence of assault has been committed and we find you guilty of the assault.'

Sentencing Saunders, Recorder Nash considered a restraining order but denied the request saying 'it could be weaponised' in other legal proceedings.

It was decided Saunders' previous sentence remains in place of a £500 fine, a £200 surcharge, £720 costs and ordered to pay compensation of £50.

In addition, she must now pay £1,300 towards the appeal costs.

Speaking outside court after being sentenced, Saunders said: 'I didn't hit [the victim] at all and I told the court the truth.

'A lesson to everybody here is don't take anything to the police ever. Never trust them, you can't trust them with anything.

'I handed over that dashcam footage to prove my innocence.

'The police are also so one-sided. I've called numerous times and they've never come out when there has been an incident at my golf course.'

She added: 'The worst thing I ever did was move to Cambridgeshire in 1986.'

Saunders was the first European to ever qualify for the LGPA tour in 1969.