A man who allowed his horses to graze near a home for great crested newts has been fined following the first such successful prosecution in the UK.

Mark Turner, of Lascelles Gardens, Rochford, admitted damaging grassland around a great crested newt pond in Rectory Avenue, Ashingdon, on September 18, last year.

He was fined £250 with £35 costs at Southend Magistrates' Court.

Turner said after the hearing: "I am shocked by all this as I had a proper written contract allowing me to graze my two horses on the field.

He grazed his two horses on the most densely populated area for the newts in Essex, despite warnings from police that he faced prosecution, the court heard.

Wildlife campaigners were particularly happy at the news.

Acting Insp Paul Saunders, the wildlife liaison officer at Rayleigh, said: " It was having a detrimental effect on the habitat of the newts."

Published Friday, May 2, 2003

Brought to you by the Evening Echo