Fiorenzo Sauro, 49, and his company Enzo Homes were found guilty of breaking tree preservation regulations at Swansea Magistrates’ Court. The court hear 72 protected trees, including the giant redwood, were felled last November on land close to Swansea’s Penllergare Valley Woods next to the site of a housing development. They were all subject to a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) imposed by council officers as planning permission was granted to build the new homes.

In my assessment of him as a witness I found him to lack credibility

Neale Thomas

Fiorenzo Sauro, 49, and his company Enzo Homes were found guilty of breaking tree preservation regulations at Swansea Magistrates’ Court.

The court hear 72 protected trees, including the giant redwood, were felled last November on land close to Swansea’s Penllergare Valley Woods next to the site of a housing development.

They were all subject to a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) imposed by council officers as planning permission was granted to build the new homes.

Sauro told the court the redwood had been felled by mistake but his claims were rejected by the court.

In a written judgement district judge Neale Thomas said: “In my assessment of him as a witness I found him to lack credibility.

“I found his protestations to be hollow. He was not a convincing witness at all. Much of what he said I did not believe.”

When asked to consider whether he could have inadvertently cut down such a tree, the judgement states: “The answer is plainly no”.

The giant redwood was planted in 1842 by John Dillwyn Llewelyn, a keen botanist and pioneer of photography.

It grew to 90ft in height with a 16ft in circumference and stood in a forest bordering 14 acres of land which was sold by the city council for development.

Tree consultant Jeremy Barrell said the tree “was likely to be one of the earliest introductions” of giant redwoods in Britain.

Swansea council, which brought the case, welcomed the court ruling.

Cabinet member for environment and infrastructure Mark Thomas said: “Swansea council was determined from the outset to take the strongest possible action to ensure those responsible for felling the tree were held accountable for their actions.

“There were calls from some quarters for a rush to prosecution but by conducting a thorough investigation that took a number of months to complete we have secured the result we have seen today.

“In our view this was never a victimless crime. The felled tree was part of the heritage of this area of Swansea and one of the first of its kind to be planted in the city.

“The decision to prosecute was not taken lightly and the convictions should serve as a warning to others.”

John Childs, Swansea Friends of the Earth co-ordinator said: “We are hoping the fine imposed will reflect the seriousness of the offence sending a strong massage to Mr Sauro and other developers both in Swansea and around the country”.

Contractor Arwyn Morgan, 50, who felled the redwood tree, had earlier pleaded guilty to two charges of contravening tree preservation regulations on the first day of the trial at Swansea Magistrates’ Court.

Morgan, Sauro and Enzo Homes will be sentenced at Swansea Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.

Source: Read Full Article