A disabled boater whose boats were removed from the Kennet & Avon Canal is now living in a tent.

George Ward, 62, is camping on the canal towpath close to Smelly Bridge near Bradford on Avon.

Wiltshire Times: Disabled canal boater George Ward is now living in a tent on the canal towpath after his boat was removed. Photo: John BakerDisabled canal boater George Ward is now living in a tent on the canal towpath after his boat was removed. Photo: John Baker (Image: John Baker)

The Canal & River Trust removed his two boats, The Celtic on April 19 and the March Hare on May 11, and craned them off the network of waterways.

Mr Ward is now plotting his next move after accusing the trust of taking away £80,000 worth of boats and personal possessions.

The trust claims it acted as a "last resort" to remove Mr Ward's boats after terminating his licences due to his anti-social and threatening behaviour.

He has also lodged a complaint with Wiltshire Police, claiming officers stood by and watched as he was allegedly assaulted on December 18, 2020.

Mr Ward claims a security operative contracted by the trust physically assaulted him while serving him with a court order.

He further claims another operative contracted by the trust assaulted him on April 12, 2021 and removed his personal possessions from the canal towpath.

Mr Ward has copied in his local MP, Michelle Donelan, to the police complaint, which is now under investigation by its Professional Standards Administration.

Wiltshire Police have been approached for a comment but have yet to respond.

The Canal & River Trust said it has “no further comment” to make.

Mr Ward has repeatedly claimed the Trust’s employees, and security operatives working for the organisation, have tried to intimidate, harass and bully him to move on over the past two-and-a-half years.

The termination of his licences on December 18, 2020 followed an incident on November 27, 2020 when the trust alleges he had been verbally abusive and threatened one of its employees.

Mr Ward said the allegation was completely false and unfounded. The trust said it was acting to protect its employees on health and safety grounds.

On January 19 this year, Salisbury Magistrates' Court withdrew two public order offences against him following an agreement between the CPS and Mr Ward, who had pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Instead, the court imposed a restraining order preventing him from contacting the trust and its staff, except through intermediaries.

A few days later on January 23, the Trust obtained a court order at Bristol County Court to remove both of his boats.