Man guilty of illegal felling

A LANDOWNER cut down protected trees covering an area the size of 12 football pitches to sell for firewood, a court heard.

Jeff Lane, 71, was convicted of illegal felling after Natural Resources Wales said the offence, in the Gower area, was the “worst of its kind seen for 30 years”.

NRW is also pursuing a Proceeds of Crime case to make Lane, of Swansea, repay the money he made.

He will be sentenced on May 17.