Building boss fined for destroying bats' home

The owner of a Leicestershire building contractor has been convicted of destroying protected bats' roosts at a property he had planned to redevelop.

John Maltby wiped out two roosts used by Pipistrelle bats at a bungalow he co-owns in Quorn, Leicestershire, according to the Leicester Mercury.

Maltby admitted destroying the roosts at Loughborough Magistrates' Court on Monday.

He had signed an agreement with a developer for the bungalow, which gave his firm the option to buy it and build on the site.

However, an environmental bat survey in September 2007 had discovered two bat roosts at the front of the property. The court heard that Maltby had been present at the time of the survey and was told about the bats.

Anyone wanting to remove a bat roost must have a licence from Natural England, but Maltby had not been granted one.

In defence, Maltby said he been trying to destroy wasps nests in the bungalow roof and had inadvertently destroyed the roosts at the same time.

Convicting Maltby, chairman of the bench Elaine Goode told him: "You are a businessman and you have been in the building industry for some time and were aware of the implications on that property of any bat roost. You were aware of their presence."

He was fined £1,500 and ordered to pay £70 in costs plus a £15 victim surcharge.