Family members cleared of £86,000 damage by cutting down trees

A FAMILY accused of causing around £86,000 damage by hacking back their neighbour’s prized conifers with a chainsaw, have been cleared by a Crown Court jury.
By The Newsroom
Published 11th Feb 2011, 08:57 BST

Married Derek and Joan Batty, who live in the village of Carlton, near Goole, and their 35-year-old son Michael, have been on trial at York Crown Court all week for destroying the trees belonging to Robert Penrose with a hired chainsaw while their neighbour was on holiday.

The court was told their son Michael devastated the collection of 23 trees - which they claimed were blocking light into their conservatory - while Mr Penrose was on a mini-break in Dublin.

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But yesterday (thurs), the jury unanimously cleared Derek, 60, and Michael Batty of the charge of destroying property.

Joan Batty, 57, who had been excused from the latter stages of the trial after complaining of chest pains, was not available so could not technically be cleared and was instead bound over for 12 months.

The couple claimed throughout they had a verbal agreement with Mr Penrose to cut down the trees.

Michael Batty said he had been told to cut them down after his parents had agreed it with their neighbour.