A couple has been shamed for allegedly causing significant damage to a campsite's security barrier while attempting to leave the site at 2 a.m. The incident occurred at the family-run High Penderleath campsite in St. Ives, Cornwall, as the couple sought to retrieve their children from the Boardmasters music festival in Newquay.
CCTV footage captured the married couple spending more than 90 minutes trying to force open the electronic barricade. According to campsite owners, the couple caused approximately £4,600 in damages to the barrier, which had been closed for security reasons. The site has a policy restricting departures after 11:30 p.m. unless it is an emergency.
The footage shows the woman speaking on the phone, stating, "we can't break the barrier because me and my husband have physically tried breaking the barrier." She also reportedly said, "we don't care about criminal damage," and at one point appeared to hit the security camera. After managing to lift the barrier sufficiently, their Volkswagen was driven underneath.
Following the incident, the couple allegedly returned to the campsite and stayed for another night. They were subsequently informed by campsite management that they had to leave by midday, cutting their week-long stay short by a day. The owners posted about the incident on the campsite's Facebook page, stating the couple would receive a "rather large bill" for the "extensive - and very expensive - damage."
Campsite owners noted that if the couple had communicated their need to leave to collect their children beforehand, an alternative arrangement could have been made. They emphasized that the situation was not an emergency and that the damage was avoidable. An electrician has reportedly made temporary repairs to the barrier to secure the site.
The incident has drawn criticism online, with the couple being labeled as "entitled" for their actions and disregard for the campsite's rules and property. The owners expressed their frustration, stating they are "perfectly reasonable people" but cannot accept being left with a substantial repair bill due to someone disregarding security restrictions. The exact amount of the bill has not yet been finalized, but it is expected to be significant.
