Neighbour apologises over false drug-driving and knife claims against councillor Mark Drabble

Parish councillors Melissa and Mark Drabble have secured a defamation settlement after their neighbour, Christopher Bramhall, made false claims about Mark on a local Facebook group. The High Court found the post defamatory, saying it alleged serious criminal conduct, and the couple said it harmed their reputations and caused business and personal consequences.

Bramhall had claimed Mark was driving while high on drugs and carrying a knife that police seized after a Bonfire Night dispute in Dove Holes. He later apologised, saying he had misheard police radio traffic: officers had said “state nine”, a code for a prisoner escort, rather than “steak knife”. The damages amount was not disclosed, although a source described it as substantial; the dispute followed an assault by Bramhall’s brother, who was jailed for three years for grievous bodily harm.