A BARNSLEY man who destroyed bat roosts has been handed a hefty fine.

Bats are a protected species and to disturb their roosts or to interfere with their breeding or resting sites is a crime.

Laws exist to safeguard the countryside, protect wildlife and preserve the delicate balance of our ecosystems.

The force say their rural and wildlife crime team works tirelessly to defend rural communities and the animals, plants, and species that call them home.

An investigation by the police, supported by the National Wildlife Crime Unit, led to James Hatton, 38, of Mill Rise, being convicted.

Hatton, a company director and building contractor, had undertaken work to convert farm buildings and land in Wortley into multiple properties.

The police investigation proved that an ecological survey carried out on the site had been received and read by Hatton before he had undertaken the damaging work. That report had made clear that before the commencement of any work, a licence should be sought on application to Natural England.

Evidence was produced at court proving that no application for a licence was ever made, and the negative ecological impact was demonstrated by combination of a trained ecologist and the Bat Conservation Trust.

Motorcycle and Rural Crime Team Inspector Kieran Frain said: “Hatton ignored expert advice and undertook destructive building work.

“He showed complete disregard for established procedures intended to ensure the conservation of a precious species known to be subject of protection by law.

“During interviews, Hatton accepted that he had personally undertaken damaging work, and had also directed an employee to do the same.

“Hatton made excuses that the work was necessary for health and safety reasons, which was disproved.

“He accepted that a delay in the start of construction would have instead resulted in an unwanted increase in interest rates.

“This is not an excuse, and I am pleased that the courts have served a financial penalty that is greater than the amount Hatton would have had to pay had he chosen to do the job right first time.

“This should serve as a warning to others.”

Hatton failed to appear at his court case and was found guilty in his absence of six counts of ‘damage/destroy a breeding site, resting place of a wild animal of a European protected species’.

He was sentenced earlier this month and fined a total of £1,880.

Mark Goulding, from the Bat Conservation Trust, added: “Bat crime is often committed by individuals with no prior criminal history - typically blue or white-collar professionals who intentionally seek to save time or reduce costs during development projects.

“Such offences frequently occur due to failures in preparing or adhering to site management plans, making them considerably more difficult to detect and prosecute.

“The Bat Conservation Trust (BCT) thanks South Yorkshire Police who worked tirelessly with BCT over several years on this case, reflecting a strong partnership approach to tackling these complex investigations.”