I was fined £8,000 for cutting down trees in my own garden – they were making my dog ill… I was protecting my family

A RACEHORSE owner has been stung with a £9000 fine after cutting down trees in his back garden that gave his dog diabetes.

Ismail Elmagdoub, 39, has been convicted of cutting down protected trees on his property after apples were falling to the ground and being eaten by his dog, making the pooch sick.

Elmagdoub also said the trees, which were at the back of his 120-foot garden, were attracting wasps and his daughter had been stung.

“I didn’t realise that my garden fence was also the boundary of the conservation area,” Elmagdoub told MailOnline.

“The trees were about 8ft from the boundary – we’d had a few wasp nests up there and my daughter had been stung. My dog developed diabetes as a result of eating the apples.

“I’ve never been in trouble with the law before and it wasn’t a pleasant experience (going to court).”

Elmagdoub pleaded guilty on Monday at Cheltenham Magistrates Court after the council brought charges against him for the felling.

In March 2023, Elmagdoub contracted to have the three apple trees felled at his Blockley, Gloucestershire, property but didn’t give the council any notice.

But, a witness alerted the Cotswold District Council to the felling when they saw the contractor beginning work.

“Despite raising concerns with the contractor and the homeowner, their concerns were dismissed and the trees were cut down,” a council spokesperson said.

The apple trees were thought to have been 60 years old and historic mapping shows the area to have been an orchard from 1891.

Elmagdoub’s back garden also sits within the Blockley Conservation Area, which meant he needed council approval before the felling.

The prosecution was brought by Cotswold District Council’s Heritage and Conservation Team.

Elmagdoub was fined £4224 and ordered to pay an additional £2970 in costs and a victim surcharge of £1690, a total of £8884.

The businessman apologised and stated that he ‘acted without thought’ and that he is keen to work with the Council’s Tree Officer.

Robert Weaver, Chief Executive of Cotswold District Council, said: “Preserving our natural heritage is a shared responsibility, and we encourage residents to engage with us to ensure sustainable decision-making.

“The outcome of this case underscores the importance of engaging with the council to ensure we protect and enhance our shared environment for future generations.”