A builder has been fined £5,000 by a court for demolishing part of a 19th century cottage in a Devon conservation area without consent.

Dennis Perryman, 55, from Buckfastleigh, appeared for sentence at Exeter Crown Court having earlier pleaded guilty to an offence under the Planning and Listed Buildings Conservation Areas Act.

He was also ordered to pay £750 costs. Judge Stephen O'Malley told him: 'This facade was in the way of your proposed development of the site.

'I do consider you knew you were not allowed to demolish the front of the cottage,' he said, adding it was a 'deliberate offence'.

Prosecutor Philip Drinkwater said Perryman had bought the site for £135,000 and proposed building three cottages on it.

He said there was 'much historical and conservation value' to the facade, side wall and roof of the cottage, of Fore Street, Buckfastleigh.

Defence Counsel Peter Ashman said it was not a 'deliberate flouting,' adding that Perryman was likely to have lost a considerable part of the investment he had made.

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