In what is believed to be a first in UK legal history, a landowner will have money confiscated under the Proceeds of Crime Act for offences under forestry legislation.
Jeff Lane illegally felled more than 8 hectares of native woodland within the Gower Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty near Swansea between April 2019 and September 2020, without the appropriate licence.
Having previously been found guilty of forestry offences at Swansea Magistrates court in April 2022, Mr Lane was handed a confiscation order by the Judge for £11,280 under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA). He was also fined £1,500 for his offences.
This isn’t a victory
The Judge agreed with NRW’s assessment that Mr Lane had benefited financially to the tune of £78,640.68 from his crimes. However, the Judge made a confiscation order which orders Mr Lane to pay £11,280 as his available amount.
Shameful
I mean it’s certainly at least a minor one. I agree that it should have been more, but as this is the first of it’s kind I’ll take something over nothing. Opens the doors for greater punitive legal action in the future.
