A MALDON district councillor who denied destroying protected trees near her home has been cleared of the charges.

Sue White, councillor for Purleigh, denied five charges relating to the contravention of a tree preservation order on August 8, 2015.

Miss White, 49, of Nipsells Chase, Mayland first appeared before the courts in February 2016 to face the charges which claimed she had cut down, uprooted or wilfully destroyed a tree.

Co-defendant Kenneth Paton, 50, also of Nipsells Chase, denied the same five charges.

At Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court last Monday, both Miss White and Mr Paton were found not guilty and the charges were dismissed.

The charges were brought against Miss White by Maldon District Council.

Miss White sits on the Community Services Committee and the north western area planning committee.

Prior to appearing at court, Miss White was suspended from Maldon District Council’s Conservative Group for unknown reasons.

The charges also led to an anonymous activist daubing a white van with claims Miss White was “unqualified” for her role and called for her to resign.

The vehicle was covered in claims about planning applications and a number of councillors.

Fiona Marshall, chief executive of Maldon District Council, said: “Following a long and complex case, Maldon District Council can confirm that the Magistrates Court found both Miss S White and Mr K Paton not guilty of breaching Area TPO 08/91, which relates to land at Nipsells Chase, Mayland.

“The council will provide no further comment on this matter.”

Miss White was contacted by the Standard, but did not respond to requests for comment.