Do you know masked man in dark clothing who filmed West Somerset zoo staff?

AN appeal has been made to help identify a masked man wearing dark clothing who has caused concern at a West Somerset zoo.

The man arrived at Tropiquaria, Washford Cross, on Thursday morning while co-owner Chris Moiser was away in Devon.

Zoo staff saw the masked man outside walking around the perimeter of the site and filming through the fencing as he did so.

Mr Moiser said when staff challenged the man he would not give his name and admitted he was wearing a mask to hide his identity.

The man told them he was within his rights to film the premises and the staff because he was on public land next to the road, but that staff could not film or photograph him because it would be a breach of his ‘GDPR rights’.

Mr Moiser said the man then flew a drone over the zoo despite being asked not to do so for animal welfare reasons and because it was close to BBC radio transmission masts.

He said: “He continued to do so and the police were called. He was not identified at the time, although we think we may know who he is now.

“Normally, we have no problems with people filming here, but when they are dressed up as ‘Milk Tray man’ when we are closed, we are obviously concerned, and some of our staff are frightened.

“Our concern is heightened because we have had intruders on site recently and several Amazon parcels have gone missing in the last week.”

Mr Moiser said the man had threatened staff they would be prosecuted if they did not delete all footage they had of him.

Police were called but Mr Moiser said they had to research the law for the particular circumstances and after speaking to the man they let him go.

When Mr Moiser returned to Tropiquaria he had to ‘calm down’ worried staff, whose concern had been heightened by television dramas and regular reports of terrorism around the world.

Mr Moiser said he understood the concerns because he had worked with the Home Office about new obligations on businesses to ‘protect and prepare’ in a counter-terrorism scenario.

He said: “We are part of ‘farm watch’ so put out a warning locally about suspicious activity together with a picture.

“I am aware that drone footage may have been used to survey farms for agricultural equipment that may be subsequently stolen.”

Mr Moiser said he later discovered an anonymous YouTube channel had put up an hour-plus video about Tropiquaria.

He urged people should not watch the channel because it was likely somebody would be paid if large numbers viewed it.

An organisation claiming to be behind the channel, both of which the Free Press has decided not to name, then contacted Mr Moiser to demand he removed all images from social media on pain of being prosecuted for a GDPR breach.

He said: “I have declined to do so. Looking at the channel, it is an appalling confrontational-style documentary set up with no broadcasting ethics.

“Basically, turn up, start filming, and when challenged tell the land owner/occupier they have not a leg to stand on legally, call the police if you like.

“This challenging ‘in your face’ behaviour makes people lose their tempers, as much through fear as anger.

“We will continue to video what we see as potentially threatening situations, having been assured by the local police on a couple of occasions that ‘if it is not on video, we do not record it as a crime’.

“We will continue to monitor social media and respond where Tropiquaria is challenged.

“We will continue to work with legitimate media sources, and film companies, and I will defend my wonderful staff.”

Mr Moiser said he had received more than 100 messages from people who believed they could identify the masked man.

He said they all had given the same name, except for one who named Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, ‘who has an alibi anyway’.

One social media user, Jodie-Louise Theyer, said the man had recently visited her workplace and did the same thing, putting up a drone in an area in which she believed they were not allowed without highways authority permission.

She said: “He does it for the satisfaction of a reaction and nothing more.”