Thieves who stole Cannock Chase Christmas trees claimed they 'found them'

Joseph Hall, aged 22, and Lee Jones, 30, were caught with 10 trees in the back of a transit van on November 27.

The pair appeared before Cannock Magistrates Court on January 12 and both defendants pleaded guilty to stealing 10 Christmas trees and damaging five more belonging to the Forestry Commission.

Prosecuting, Miss Zoe Speake said: "A forestry worker and an off-duty police officer were witness to the theft which happened half a mile from Birches Valley in Rugeley on Penkridge bank.

"A white Ford transit van had stopped on the road and two men were pulling trees towards the van. The off duty police officer followed the van before calling the police.

Mr Jones was driving the van and when police arrived, both men were arrested."

A total of ten trees were recovered from the van, each valued at £45 and were described by the forestry worker as 'freshly cut'.

The prosecution also added: "The trees cut down were timber trees and not trees sold as Christmas trees because they do not meet European regulations."

The damaged trees were also valued at £45 each and the total loss to the Forestry Commission was £675.

Mr Jones, a scrap collector, told the court he decided to take the trees home for his family. He denied cutting them down and said he had found them at the side of the road.

Mr Hall also denied cutting down the trees and said he took them for personal use and not for monetary gain.

Defending, Mr Mark Harrison said: "They accept they should not have taken them but claim they did not cut them down. Both defendants also dispute the value of the trees."

However, Mr Hall and Mr Jones, both of Fountains Road, Bloxwich, were both given a 12 month conditional discharge and ordered to repay the Forestry Commission full compensation for the trees.

In total, each defendant was ordered to pay £337.50 compensation to the Forestry Commission, £50 court costs and £15 victim surcharge.

Katrina Podlewska, spokeswoman for the Forestry Commission said the organisation was satisfied with the conviction for illegal felling at Birches Valley.

She said: "We are satisfied with the outcome of this case and resulting prosecution. The Forestry Commission works hard to maintain Birches Valley for people, timber and wildlife and each tree plays an important part in this. We urge the public to report cases of theft and other criminal actions relating to the Public Forest Estate so that we can continue to take appropriate action."