A farmer has been fined more than £100,000 for sawing down 200 ancient beech trees in a revenge attack over land rights.
62-year-old Keith Smith rented farmland and woods in Blackwood, near Caerphilly, Wales, and wanted to start a business on the land.
But a renewable energy company bought the land, and now it plans to open up a new solar plant.
This prompted Mr Smith to object. He and his sons then proceeded to perform the revenge attack - sawing down 200 ancient trees with a chainsaw in protest.
Muhammed Yaqub, prosecuting, told The Daily Mail: "The land was being used to install solar panels and the company in fact wanted the trees in place as they provided the perfect screening for the panels."
Mr Yaqub said Mr Smith applied to do something with the land, but failed to get permission.
He continued: "He wasn't able to do what he wanted, and this was a revenge. His attitude was: 'If I can't have that land, no one else can."
Newport Magistrates' Court charged Mr Smith with illegal felling and fined £105,082 ordered to pay £6,945 in costs.
Jim Hepburn, Regulatory Woodland Officer at Natural Resources Wales, said: "This is a devastating case which will have a terrible impact on the local environment and no doubt be very upsetting for local people.
"These trees would have been around 150 - 200 years old and would have provided valuable habitat for wildlife.
"We continue to investigate how this felling has happening, and will take the necessary action against those responsible."
