TWO Bradford brothers have been ordered to pay more than £16,000 after 18 trees were illegally destroyed during construction work on their land.

Asghar Khan, 52, of Toller Lane, and Asif Khan, 50, of Toller Lane, pleaded guilty to 18 charges each at Bradford and Keighley Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.

All the offences were contravening tree preservation orders.

There were 10 sycamore, three beech, three horse chestnut and two lime trees, which were protected by Bradford Council, damaged while workers contracted by the brothers were on site.

This was between January 27 and March 4 last year. 

An expert hired by the local authority to investigate the situation estimated the trees were aged between 60 and 90 years old and were likely to live for another 40 years.

The court heard how these trees were of particular importance because there is a scarcity in the Toller Lane area and were a significant landscape feature.

A lawyer for the council said of the trees after the damage: “They are a blight on the landscape and provide no amenity value to the community."

He added that the trees had been “destroyed” because they were so badly damaged they were no longer worthy of being preserved and were now essentially sticks.

The brothers have lost tens of thousands of pounds after the contractors disappeared with their money and the value of their property will have gone down significantly, the court heard.

This was mentioned as a point of mitigation, as well as the fact the brothers are of previous good character.

Their defence lawyer said: “They accept it has led to a significant loss on the community and also for themselves, now they live in a property with extensively damaged and ugly trees.”

He added: “They should have taken significantly more care, they should have made enquiries to the council.

“They should have supervised the company who they brought in to do the works.”

Asghar was ordered to pay £8,531 to the court, including a £5,263 fine, £3,078 in costs and a £190 surcharge to fund victim services.

Asif was ordered to pay £7,699, including a £4,737 fine, £2,772 in costs and a £190 surcharge.

A Bradford Council spokesperson said: “It is important people respect local planning rules.

“Tree protection orders are put in place to protect the character of our neighbourhoods and it’s unacceptable for them to be removed without permission.

“As these prosecutions show, we can and do take action against those who choose to flout the rules.”