A man from Cheltenham has been charged with “taking a vehicle on common land” after his 4×4 vehicle was found abandoned close to the summit of Snowdon in North Wales.
39-year-old Craig Anthony Williams revealed his motivation for driving the Vauxhall Frontera up the mountain, which is the highest point in Wales, in an exclusive interview with the BBC. Mr Williams denied that the incident was a publicity stunt, explaining that his reason for driving the 4×4 up the steep mountain path was simply because it was on his list of 50 things to do before he dies.
However the Cheltenham man’s spur-of-the-moment decision to run his 4×4 up the mountain will cost his dear as Mr Williams has been charged by police, and will appear at Caernarfon Magistrates Court on September 16th.
While the 39-year-old has found himself in hot water as a result of his decision to drive up Snowdon on a whim, the abandoned 4×4 has the left the authorities with a headache over how to retrieve the vehicle.
Mr Williams’ offer to drive the Vauxhall 4×4 back down the mountain has been refused, although there is no definite plan in place to bring it down. North Wales Police say they won’t be tasked with the mission to bring the vehicle down safely, and Llanberis Mountain Rescue say it’s their duty to rescue people, not vehicles. The Railway which runs up Snowdon say they are unsure as to whether it is their responsibility to bring the 4×4 down as the vehicle is not parked on their land.
One suggestion on the table at present is that the 4×4 may have to be cut up and brought down Snowdon in pieces.
