A traveller who tried to turn farm fields into an illegal caravan site has been handed a jail sentence.
Simon McDonagh received a two-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, after establishing the camp on farmland in Stafford Borough.
The site was created on agricultural fields behind Stallington Road, close to the village of Blythe Bridge.
It was made without any planning consent to change the land’s use.
McDonagh appeared before the County Court in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, in June.
He pleaded guilty to breaching an interim injunction secured by Stafford Borough Council against him.
The local authority had obtained a court order to halt further development of the unauthorised site and prevent additional caravans from arriving.
Despite the council initially serving him with a Stop Notice and then issuing an interim injunction, McDonagh continued with development work on the land.
A traveller who tried to turn farm fields into an illegal caravan site has been handed a jail sentence
|
STAFFORD BOROUGH COUNCIL
The court heard that between September 11 and 13 2025, he arranged for multiple loads of hardcore and other materials to be delivered to the site.
On September 13, he was also found to have overseen groundworks on the property.
These actions formed the basis of his guilty plea, as they directly contravened the injunction designed to prevent any further transformation of the agricultural fields into an unauthorised traveller encampment.
Following the proceedings, McDonagh was ordered to clear the site entirely of all caravans, trailers and plant machinery.
McDonagh appeared before the County Court in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, in June
|
The court also directed him to dismantle a perimeter fence that had been constructed around the land.
Additionally, he must remove all hardscape materials, piping, and a septic tank that were installed on the property.
The injunction prohibiting any unauthorised development on the site has been extended significantly.
It will remain in effect until December 2031.
McDonagh faces potential imprisonment if he attempts any further unlawful work on the agricultural land over the next five years
|
This extended order means McDonagh faces potential imprisonment if he attempts any further unlawful work on the agricultural land over the next five years.
Council solicitor Lucy Taylor-Grime said that the authority had received numerous complaints from local residents concerning caravans arriving on the land.
Neighbours had also raised concerns about the agricultural fields being transformed into an unauthorised site without proper permissions.