Author convicted over Sheffield tree-felling protest says council’s apology not enough

Simon Crump says the ordeal has cost him his career and relationship, and asks for his name to be cleared

An author and academic who received a suspended prison sentence for demonstrating against tree-felling work in Sheffield has made a plea for the council to help clear his criminal record and compensate him for the “mental, emotional and reputational harm” caused.

On Tuesday the local authority issued a four-page apology for its “flawed” programme to fell 17,500 street trees – many of which were healthy – after an independent inquiry found a “serious” mishandling of the long-running dispute.