Homeowner awarded compensation after drunk man tried to hack down his prized peacock bush

A wealthy retired businessman won £200 compensation from a drunken man who tried to cut down his prized peacock-shaped bush outside his home. Devoted gardener Roger Tod, 74, pruned his "masterpiece" 8ft topiary peacock for over 20 years until Joe Davies, 23, tried to cut it down with a hacksaw. The yew tree peacock in pride of place outside Mr Tod's country home at Crickhowell, Powys, Wales, was spotted by Davies as he drove past after a night in the pub.



A court heard window fitter Davies grabbed his hacksaw to climb Mr Tod's 6ft garden wall in a bid to cut down the proud peacock. He managed to hack at the neck until he fled with an accomplice after being spotted by a passing car - leaving the peacock badly damaged. Mr Tod was "devastated" when he noticed the damage to his prized topiary the next day at his home. The court heard police were able to identify Davies from CCTV cameras on the garden. Shamed Davies admitted causing criminal damage at Brecon Magistrates Court and apologised for the "stupid, drunken mistake".

Prosecutor Kevin Challinor said: "Mr Tod has taken great pride in his garden and has done so for the past 20 years. He has spent a lot of time sculpting an ornamental peacock. On March 7 he went to bed as usual and when he got up in the morning he noticed the branches had been damaged. The head was damaged. It will be some time before the tree is regrown fully." When asked why he had a hacksaw with him, Davies said he always carried tools as he was a window fitter. Nadine Cowdell, defending, said: "He accepts this was a drunken mistake. He realises he caused upset."



Magistrates were told the tree would cost around £150 if bought at a garden centre. Davies, of Beaufort, near Ebbw Vale, was ordered to pay £200 compensation to Mr Tod and was fined a total of £465. After the case, keen gardener Mr Tod fears the damage to his prized peacock might never be reversed - and has turned brown where it was damaged. Mr Tod, who lives with his wife Joy, said: "My peacock will never go back to what it was. The part which he cut off has finally started growing back but it's all discoloured. It's coming back brown and it doesn't look the same at all. It's a shame because for years people have stopped to admire my peacock. I can't understand why someone would do something so needlessly."