A SHERIFF has criticised Donald Trump's staff over reporting a grandmother who had urinated on the US president's golf course to police
Rohan Beyts, 62, claimed a moral victory despite losing a court fight for damages after being filmed by Mr Trump's staff as the sheriff in the case said that a separate criminal complaint made against the retired social worker - over which no action was taken - was "frivolous".
Ms Beyts claimed Trump International Golf Course Scotland breached Data Protection legislation when employees took images of her relieving herself last April as her lawyer said she had "lost on a technical point".
The retired social worker told Edinburgh Sheriff Court that she was shocked when police charged with committing an offence at the Menie resort in Aberdeenshire.
Ms Beyts, who wasn't prosecuted, was left feeling "paranoid" that staff captured her answering the call of nature and moved to sue the course, which is fully owned by Donald Trump, for £3,000.
Sheriff Donald Corke ruled against Ms Beyts and in favour of Trump International on Wednesday over the damages claim.
He ruled that Ms Beyt's agent, solicitor advocate Mike Dailly, didn't do enough to prove that the distress suffered by his client was with regard to the fact that the company wasn't registered with the information commissioner.
The sheriff ruled that Ms Beyts was distressed by the fact that staff captured her image and that her photograph shouldn't have been taken.
Sheriff Corke said: "The pursuer suffered distress as a consequence of having her image recorded. "She should not have been photographed.
"The criminal complaint which was made to the police was frivolous.
"I have to emphasis that officious bystanders who photograph females urinating in the countryside put themselves at very real risk of prosecution."
Ms Beyts said she suffered from incontinence and thought nobody could see her.
Three days after she urinated, two police officers visited her home in Montrose, Angus and arrested her for public urination.
The procurator fiscal later decided no action would be taken.
Ms Beyts said after the case: "To me it was never about the monetary compensation. I wasn't interested in money.
"I was only interested in clearing my name when the Trump organisation representative spoke of me committing a deliberate and shameful act within a few feet of the club house in full view of staff and guests.
"My message for Donald Trump is to treat people with respect and dignity. If you do that you will be treated with respect and dignity back."
A statement released by the Trump Organisation read: "We are satisfied that justice has prevailed."
It said the case was "a perversion of the truth and nothing more than an attempt at self publicity in an effort to garner support for her anti Trump, anti business propaganda".
"Rohan Beyts is a shameless activist with a history of antagonistic behaviour.
"She came onto our property as a hostile opponent of the project looking for trouble.
"She is insincere about her motives for being on our land and needs to take accountability for her actions."
Mr Dailly said: "Taking footage or photographs of walkers urinating responsibly in accordance with the Scottish Outdoor Access Code may well be a criminal offence according to today's court ruling, and will likely result in Trump International being subject to further litigation for breach of the Data Protection Act principles.
"Today's case was lost on a technical point in relation to the Act but no doubt future litigant would learn from this case "
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