Man cuts down 122 trees to get sea view

A German pensioner has cut down dozens of trees to get a better view of the Baltic Sea from his coastal home. Officials are calling him a Grinch Who Stole the Forest and want to prosecute him. Neighbours, though, are asking what all the fuss is about.

Unhappy with the obscured view at his property near the Baltic Sea coast, the man struck back at nature - with a chainsaw.

Police reported that the 80-year-old man admitted to having illegally cut down 122 trees because they obstructed his view of the coast at his vacation home in an expensive part of the town of Scharbeutz near Lübeck in northern Germany.



The police investigating the crime said the tops had been cut off of 66 beech, ash, oak and wild cherry trees and that an additional 55 had been sawed to the ground completely. All of the trees were over 30 years old. The local forestry office is estimating damages at €15,000 ($22,000).

Meanwhile, prosecutors are exploring their options for charging the man for property damage and violating both state and federal nature conservation laws.

However, some local neighbours have come his defence "Maybe he got a bit carried away with 120 trees," said one neighbour, who asked to remain anonymous. "But what's all the fuss about?"