Daventry man pleads guilty to damaging historic oak tree
The 24-year-old attacked the tree with axes in December last year
A Daventry man has pleaded guilty to damaging a historic oak tree after he attacked it with axes.
William Ferguson, 24, was caught on a wildlife camera on the Fawsley Estate on the evening of 5th December 2025, using two axes to damage a tree trunk.
He was confronted by the estate's staff, who took the axes from him and requested he leave the premises.
Northamptonshire Police were called, and Ferguson later admitted in his interview that he initially planned to go for a walk but opted to hit wood instead due to the rain.
The oak tree, planted in 1937, was assessed by a specialist who found its vascular system beyond repair, leading to its eventual removal for safety reasons.
Ferguson, residing on Elder Drive, Daventry, was charged with criminal damage and possessing a bladed item in a public place.
He appeared at Northampton Magistrates’ Court last week (6th October), where he received a four-month suspended prison sentence and was ordered to pay £1,800 in compensation and £239 in costs.
Rural Crime Officer PC Chloe Gillies remarked, "This was a senseless act of damage resulting in the loss of a mature oak tree, a vital part of our landscape and heritage."