The True Face Of An Eco-Tycoon...

An eco-tycoon and his wife who were filmed destroying a community flowerbed amid a bitter row with his green-fingered neighbours over plans to build a gym at his home has finally settled the case and left the country.

Oh dear, how sad. But what sort of 'eco-tycoon' destroys nature?  

Oh, silly me, the ones that build the bird-choppers do. I suppose, Maybe this isn't as bizarre a story as I first thought when the headline caught my eye...

Michael Hodgson, 55, of Gwaenysgor, near Prestatyn, North Wales, was charged with criminal damage listed at a value of £178 over the incident in the village of around 230 residents in August last year. He and his wife Shirin Pootschi, 57, were caught on camera in a furious rage pulling up a bed of wildflowers outside his house just 24 hours after they were planted.

Insane! 

At the time locals said it was the culmination of a 10-year planning row between Hodgson and his neighbours, ongoing since he first moved to the village 11 years ago. Hodgson had put in three separate planning applications to build a home gym and office adjoined to his £500,000 home - but each time it faced fierce opposition from neighbours.

And he lost the argument: 

Hodgson has since donated an unspecified amount of money to a local church as part of an out of court community settlement order. Prosecutor Mrs Jackson told the court Hodgson has since moved out of the UK, although still maintains a property in the village. It is unclear where he and his wife are now living.

Beware if you've recently acquired neighbours! 

Defence lawyer Selina Woodward said: 'The community resolution was to pay a sum of money to the local church. That was paid.' She added: 'This gentleman and his wife have been through an absolute nightmare.'

 No, they caused one, they aren't the victims here, though I'm sure that's what they are paying you to say.

The lawyer said a PC in the case had stopped responding and she sought an adjournment. District judge Gwyn Jones adjourned the case until next month for North Wales police to liaise with Hodgson about the outstanding aspects of the community resolution.

Meaning they skipped town before fully complying? What lovely people...