Trees felled illegally

Press, 8 December 1987, Page 36

Trees felled illegally

A property developer called in workmen to fell trees in the grounds of neighbours while they were away on holiday, a court was told yesterday. Royton Richardson said his request for the trees to be trimmed had been consistently refused. He pleaded guilty in the District Court at Auckland to a charge of wilfully damaging the trees belonging to Mr Thomas McGeachie between May 15 and 25.

Sergeant Phil Wirth told the court that the workmen had arrived on May 15, but were sent away by another neighbour after a few trees had been felled. Richardson told the police he had permission to cut them.

Sergeant Wirth said the next day Richardson had arranged for workmen to return and he had helped them to top and fell no fewer than 19 trees.

“The job was done in an unworkmanlike manner and the trees were left lying where they fell.”

The cost of the damage could not be easily estimated, he said. Richardson said he

thought his neighbours had a cheek for allowing the trees to grow so high as to obstruct his view of the harbour. “Richardson now has a substantial view of Hobson Bay from his property,” Sergeant Wirth said. Judge Bate fined Richardson $4OO.