Off-roaders caught damaging protected site after posting videos to TikTok

Three men have been sentenced for causing irreversible damage to a protected area in Wales by posting videos of their off-road vehicles on TikTok. John Robinson, Michael Williams, and Joseph Hodgson struck the Berwyn Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) with their vehicles, causing significant harm to the environment. Robinson and Williams were fined over £2,000 each and banned from driving for two months, while Hodgson was found guilty in his absence.

The vehicles traveled from Liverpool to the Berwyn SSSI, a site under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, over private land, breaking a gate lock and tearing down signs to gain access. The damage caused included deep tracks in peat and blanket bog habitats, both of which are rare and protected. Kirsty Roberts from Natural Resources Wales (NRW) emphasized that SSSIs are protected due to their importance in supporting the UK's most fragile wildlife.

NRW classified the damage as a Category 2 impact, which can take years to recover and severely degrade the habitat, affecting carbon storage. The court heard that Hodgson had previously admitted to causing damage to the site. NRW's specialist teams will now undertake peatland restoration work to help restore the site to its healthy condition.