Three men from Liverpool caused irreversible damage to a protected Welsh beauty spot by driving their 4×4 vehicles in convoy across the Berwyn Site of Special Scientific Interest. The group travelled more than 3km across rare peat and blanket bog on privately-owned land, leaving deep tyre tracks that will harm the sensitive ecosystem for years. Sites of Special Scientific Interest are protected because they support the UK's most important rare and fragile wildlife, and such damage undermines conservation efforts and affects farmers and landowners.

The offenders were identified after posting TikTok videos of their off-roading activities, with clips showing vehicles bouncing through muddy tracks and becoming stuck in mud. Joseph Hodgson, 23, received the harshest penalty: a three-year ban from the entire Berwyn SSSI (covering more than 254 sq km) and ordered to pay £2,080 in total fines and compensation. John Robinson and Michael Williams were both fined and disqualified from driving for two months following their August convictions. The incident reflects a growing trend of young people posting evidence of their own crimes on social media.