A man has been fined for cutting down a protected beech tree in his garden, valued at over £114,000, after claiming a falling branch narrowly missed his daughter. Carl Bellis, of Sandfield Close, appeared at Liverpool Magistrate’s Court and admitted wilful destruction of the tree.
Bellis was fined £1,100 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £440, with costs of £1,067 awarded to Liverpool City Council. The council alleged he breached a tree preservation order, which requires permission for any work on protected trees.
The court heard that a tree surgeon acting for Bellis made an online enquiry seeking permission to remove the mature beech tree, citing it as a hazard to his family. Bellis also claimed the tree had lifted paving flags, creating a trip hazard, and that branches had damaged his car and guttering.
The council refused the request due to “insufficient evidence” and suggested alternative solutions that did not involve removing the tree. A previous application for removal had been rejected six months earlier. After receiving complaints of unauthorised tree works, officers found the tree had been reduced to an eight-metre stump.
Bellis accepted responsibility for the unauthorised work, while the tree surgeon denied involvement. A council spokesperson welcomed the sentence, stating it sends a clear message about the importance of preserving protected trees.
