Rallying call to save Royal British Legion clubs
- Today's leader
Man, 71, denies digger damage at Shropshire beauty spot
Friday 8th April 2011, 5:42PM BST.
A 71-year-old Shropshire man charged with causing criminal damage with a digger at a north Shropshire beauty spot has denied the charges after claiming the land belongs to him.
Antony Barnett, of The Grove, Hodnet, near Market Drayton, is charged with damaging metal gates, signage and a dog waste bin at Prees Heath Common, near Whitchurch on August 9 last year.
Barnett appeared at Shrewsbury Magistrates Court yesterday to face two charges of causing more than £4,000 of damage.
Mr Adam Warner, prosecuting, said the land was owned by Butterfly Conservation.
He said Barnett got Colin Handley to drive a digger on to the nature reserve to tear down the gates, sign and bin. Giving evidence, Mr Handley said he was unaware why Barnett asked him to carry out the act.
Stephen Lewis, Prees Heath officer and member of Butterfly Conservation, said the group bought the land in 2006 and installed gates to prevent illegal access.
Barnett, who was representing himself, claimed Butterfly Conservation failed to supply him with proof of ownership of the land when asked.
He claimed Prees Heath Common was common land and as a commoner he acted within his rights.
District judge Bruce Morgan adjourned the hearing until May 23 when the prosecution will continue its case.
Most Commented
- Shropshire Council will face £8m redundancy bill
- Clampdown on Shrewsbury chuggers
- Bishop's gay marriage views do nothing to support bible teachings
- Letter: Alcohol price plans annoy me
- Letter: No sense in overseas job adverts
- Letter: Angered by close encounter of the furred kind
- The Bleak Old Shop of Stuff doesn't raise a smile
Shropshire Star on Twitter
Keep updated with the latest breaking news and content on our Twitter feed.
Lifestyle
Interactive Dining Out map
Hundreds of reviews by the Shropshire Star and Express & Star's teams to help you decide where to eat.
Entertainment
All the film reviews
Before you plan a trip to the pictures, get our critics' verdicts on all the latest movie releases.
OUR NEW APP
Get the new Shropshire Star app
Download the Shropshire Star’s new app to your iPad or iPhone to get one week of access to our digital newspapers absolutely FREE.
shropshirestar.com
Popular sections
Useful links
