My nightmare neighbour snuck into MY garden to chop down a tree they didn’t like… but I caught them red handed

A WOMAN was left fuming after claiming her nightmare neighbour snuck into her garden to chop down a tree she didn't like.

The 23-year-old woman found out her neighbour was cutting down branches when her security camera detected movement in her garden while she was on holiday.

She and her partner recently bought their first home together after falling in love with its back garden.

Their apple tree is around 70 to 80 years old, she posted on popular social media site Reddit.

But their neighbour, who is said to be in his fifties, quickly started complaining about the tree growing across the fence.

The woman agreed to cut it back but said it was the wrong time of the year.

They told their neighbour they would prune the tree in the autumn.

The anonymous homeowner wrote: "In the meantime, if they wanted to cut any that were causing problems for them they could.

"I know by law in the UK you can cut a neighbour's tree if it hangs into your garden, but only what hangs into the garden and only from your own side of the fence.

"They pestered us a few times in the now eight weeks we lived here asking when we're going to sort it but we've told them many times that it's not our top priority (the house needs a rewire and a new kitchen)."

Things took a turn for the worst when their neighbour launched into action as soon as the couple went away on holiday.

Their phones were alerted after their security camera picked up something moving in their garden.

When they clicked onto the camera's feed they watched as the neighbour climbed their tree with a saw in hand.

A feature on the camera let them shout at the neighbour to leave their tree alone, but when they returned they found it had been seriously damaged.

She added: "When we looked they'd let themselves into our garden with a saw and a ladder to try and cut it down.

"Thankfully our camera has a microphone so we told them off over the camera and they ran off pretty quick but we got back today and they have managed to cut off another branch (which was not an overhanging one)."

The couple called the non-emergency police line.

The original poster claimed she and her partner were told it "was a civil matter and not a criminal offence".

Comments under the post urged the couple to take more decisive action.

One person said: "They are not going to stop. If you go away again, they'll try again.

"You need to take some kind of legal action to let them know you are very serious about not taking the tree down.

"Repeatedly asking about it is a form of bullying, but then going into your yard and cutting off a branch is destruction of your property.

"Maybe a lawyer can write a letter to them, addressing the situation.

"Some people try to take advantage of young people and this may be part of their problem."

While another added: "Your neighbour knew damn well that you weren't home.

"I'd go talk with them and let them know that they're absolutely not allowed on your property without your permission and without you present."

A third wrote: "I’ll bet they knew you were out of town. Maybe they saw you loading up the car or you told them.

"This was very sneaky on their part, so the time for being nice is over."