Thinking of cutting down a tree that is protected? Well it's worth thinking again.
A Dorset man who hired a tree surgeon to cut down a tree in his neighbour's garden has been fines £75,000 plus £50,000 costs. The tree was covered by a Tree Preservation Order TPO.
The tree surgeon was also fines £5,500 for his part in the crime.
"Davey was fined £75,000, with a confiscation order of £50,000 to reflect the increased value in his property following the tree's destruction. In addition Davey was ordered to pay council costs of £14,500. The Judge commented that Davey was the "prime mover for the crime and that he had showed remarkable arrogance during the trial and complete contempt for his neighbour's safety."
McGuire was fined £2,500 and ordered to pay £3,000 costs to the council."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-20466753
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He may also get sued by the owner of the tree who's property he trespassed on.
Most Council Tree Officers will respond to reasonable requests but as this chap found out, they are no pushover and No means NO!
that must be some view to increase a properties value by 50k!
He probarbly thought that he would get a slap on the wrists. Its nice to see that Davey has been severely hit with a £125,000 fine, which is way, way above any gains he would have made through the increased value on his house. That will serve as a deterant to others thinking of doing the same thing. We might get a lot less crime in this country per say, if all criminal acts were as severely punished as Davey has been