A MAN who was fined £6,000 for removing hedge rows without permission said he has been victimised by the district council.

James Philips, of Hoe Lane, Abridge was ordered to pay the fine by Harlow Magistrates Court after he was found guilty of three offences of removing the hedges on his own land.

But Mr Philips, 50 said he will appeal the decision.

He added: “The land had been neglected for a long period and it was over grown and it was pushing cars across the road as drivers were going down Hoe Lane.

"We went in there to maintain the land. The council came along and served a stop notice and we were told we had to put in a Hedge Row Removal Notice which had to run for 42 days during which time the council had the right to say we couldn't remove the hedge. They let the notice run out and we removed it.”

Council Officers became aware that the hedges had been removed in January 2008 and took Mr Philips to court where a two day trial was heard.

Mr Philips said: “I don't think the magistrates understood the case and we are going to appeal.

"I do feel that I have been persecuted by the council and there's all sorts of planning issues and complaints we have made.

"The site is immaculate as is the road frontage. Unfortunately unless you have a lot of money you can't fight these cases and you get bullied. I'm one of those people who thinks that right is right and the truth is the truth.

"I have had no criminal record in my life and the silly thing is that I have only removed a hedge row. But all the way through the council has been unfair. We wrote so much correspondence to them and they never responded or replied.”

Mr Philips was also ordered to pay a contribution of £5,000 towards the council's prosecution costs.

He believes the reason he has been taken to court is because a neighbour put pressure on the council.

He added: “No one understands the truth because no one goes and talks to the horses mouth. Rumours are circulated and the story at the beginning is totally different to the story at the end.”

A spokeswoman for the district council said: "We have a responsibility to protect the environment and we make no apologies for doing so. "Hopefully this successful prosecution sends out a clear message to anyone in similar circumstances to stop before they carry out similar action. The consequences of not doing so can be to end up in court."