Cops probe glowing gnome in front of home

TRURO, England (UPI) -- British police have threatened to arrest a man whose glowing gnome in his front yard disturbs his next-door neighbor.

The gnome, which looks like a policeman, is in an "annoying position," says neighbor John McLean, a former policeman. It also intimidates potential buyers of his $390,000 home in Treovis, near Liskeard, Cornwall, McLean says.

Police served gnome owner Gordon MacKillop, 46, with a notice for "placing a garden gnome with intent to cause harassment," the BBC reports.

The notice also accuses MacKillop of intimidating potential buyers of McLean's home.

MacKillop, a marine surveyor, denies harassing anyone. He says he bought the gnome to deter criminals after his motorcycle was stolen from his driveway.

"It just happened that it had a police uniform on," he says. "I'm not having the police telling me what type of garden gnome I can have."

This news arrived on: 09/11/2006

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