A homeowner claimed he illegally chopped down several protected trees to stop his horses eating acorns that could poison them.

Paul Hayden, of Old House Lane, Roydon, was fined £3,199 after admitting cutting down trees protected by Woodland Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) at Chelmsford Magistrates Court on July 6.

Hayden told magistrates he had cleared two protected oak trees, two hawthorn trees and had “wilfully damaged” another hawthorn from the grounds of his home.

He said he had occupied the property for 26 years before buying in it 2016 but did not instruct his solicitor to carry out usual conveyancing searches.

Hayden told the court he had cut down the trees to clear a riding path for his daughter to avoid the horses eating acorns, which he said had been found to be poisonous to them.

Magistrates considered his actions to have been “reckless” but did not believe he had felled the tress for monetary gain.

Hayden was fined £400 for each tree cut down and £250 for the damaged Hawthorn. He will also have to plant replacement trees.

On top of the fines, he was ordered to pay the council’s prosecution costs of £1,309 and a victim surcharge of £40.