‘Bully’ burger van owner drove at Cornish pasty seller after fight over territory

Jimmy Nsubuga
Updated ·2 min read

A “bully” burger van owner was filmed driving towards a rival Cornish pasty seller after a dispute over territory.

The footage showed Benjamin Harbour, 38, driving his car at Scot Weller on an industrial estate in Launceston, Cornwall, last June.

Mr Weller had run his business, Over the Top Cornish Pasties, peacefully for years until the arrival of the Scran Van, a company run by Harbour that sells burgers and jacket spuds.

After several incidents where Mr Weller and his staff were threatened to stay away from the site, he was advised by police to record any interactions.

Scot Weller, owner of Over the Top Cornish Pasties'(Picture: SWNS)
Scot Weller, owner of Over the Top Cornish Pasties (SWNS)

When Mr Weller was filming the argument last year, Harbour got into his car and drove straight into him. Harbour told his victim: “You didn't like that, did you.”

Harbour, from Tavistock, Devon, was sentenced at Bodmin Magistrates’ Court last week after previously admitting driving without due care and attention and common assault.

Speaking after the case, Mr Weller said: “He sold completely different types of food to us so we never considered ourselves rivals but then me and my staff started receiving messages saying we should leave Launceston.

“We didn’t think much of it but the messages kept coming and there was also negative feedback left online. I just carried on as I didn’t want to be intimidated.”

He added: “He got into his van and drove at me. Luckily I only scraped my elbow and knee but it could have been a lot worse.”

Benjamin Harbour was involved in a turf war with Scot Weller (Picture: SWNS)
Benjamin Harbour was involved in a turf war with Scot Weller (SWNS)

Mr Weller said that after the incident he and his colleagues stopped delivering to Launceston as they didn’t believe it was safe to do so.

READ MORE YAHO UK NEWS HERE:

Teenager fined for shouting 'is it a boy or is it a girl?' at transgender PCSO

Mum shouted 'I'm going' as she choked to death in front of daughter at Brewers Fayre

Police sniffer dog helps man find wedding ring he threw out after row with wife

He added: “He’s a bully and I want people to know to keep away. We stopped delivering to Launceston but I wasn’t going to stop the court case.

“In the end he pleaded guilty and luckily our business is doing well. It’s crazy with non-stop orders and we can’t keep up.”

As punishment, Harbour – who operated under the name The Scran Van – was made subject of a community order consisting of a four-month 5pm to 7am curfew.

He was also told by magistrates to pay costs and a victim surcharge.