A raging businessman destroyed a bed of wildflowers in a row with green-fingered neighbours who installed a community planter outside his house.
Video footage appears to show wind turbine company director Mike Hodgson, 54, pulling out the colourful herbs and flowers less than 24 hours after the raised bed had been tenderly planted by volunteers.
Mr Hodgson and his partner, who have been accused of ‘terrorising’ locals with anti-social behaviour, allegedly took ‘power tools and crowbars’ to destroy the bed of blooms next to his luxury home.
Villagers then staged a ‘sit-in’ to protect the flower bed during the turf war in the heart of the countryside village.
Mr Hodgson and partner Shirin Poostchi, 55, were filmed on Wednesday as they climbed onto the soil and pulled out the plants that had been put in place.
Video footage appears to show wind turbine company director Mike Hodgson, 54, pulling out the colourful herbs and flowers less than 24 hours after the raised bed had been planted
Villagers staged a sit in to try and protect the bed, but Mr Hodgson simply climbed over them
The bed was planted in preparation for Britain in Bloom and in association with the village Conservation Group and Community Council Biodiversity Project
Locals said there had been an ongoing planning dispute with wind turbine company boss Mr Hodgson after he moved into the countryside village of Gwaenysgor, North Wales, around 10 years ago.
Neighbour Andy Clarke, 58, said: ‘We installed a herb planter adjacent to their house – it is not on their land but is next to it.
‘Members of the public had to sit on the bed to stop them destroying it. The police were called but no one was cautioned or arrested.’
Mr Clarke, a creative director at a design agency, said the flowers had been planted with the support of the community council in what he described as a ‘sleepy, rural, village, where the average age of residents must be over 60’.
He said: ‘We planted this to brighten things up and as part of readying the village for Britain in Bloom and in association with the village Conservation Group and Community Council Biodiversity Project.
‘We hoped it would last a long time but it didn’t even last a day.’
Posting a video of the incident on social media, Mr Clarke added: ‘To see our friends and neighbours terrorised and threatened by [Mr Hodgson] will haunt my sleep.’
During the video, a man can be heard saying in front of Mr Hodgson: ‘This is how CEOs of companies behave. I’m going to love putting this on his LinkedIn account later on today. This is going to be fabulous on his LinkedIn profile.’
Mr Clarke said villagers had previously contacted their local Conservative Senedd Member Mark Isherwood and police regarding alleged ‘anti-social behaviour’ problems with Mr Hodgson but to no avail.
Accusations levelled by residents include verbal abuse and inconsiderate parking.Â
Mr Hodgson said he did not wish to comment on the dispute and said: ‘To be honest it is not something we want to be dealing with.’
Ms Poostchi added: ‘We’re trying to get on with our day at work.’
North Wales Police has been contacted for comment.
