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A traveller who destroyed part of one of Britain's most important ancient monuments has escaped being prosecuted - because he claimed he didn't know it existed.

A 45-metre section of the world famous Offa's Dyke marking the 1,200-year-old boundary between England and Wales was flattened by the traveller known as "Danny".

But he won't prosecuted - because police couldn't prove he knew what Offa's Dyke was.

The earthwork on the Welsh border is a World Heritage site listed alongside the Pyramids and the Taj Mahal.

But police admitted today that they had "insufficient evidence" to prove it was deliberately damaged by the traveller landowner who had lived in the area all his life.

Horrified experts said the bulldozing of a 45-metre (50-yard) preserved section of the dyke to build a stables was like "driving a road through Stonehenge".

Jim Saunders of the Offa's Dyke Association said: "An example needs to be made.

"If other landowners see someone getting away with it then they will be encouraged to do the same.

"This is the worst damage I have seen done for 25 years. A 50-yard section has been cut away and completely destroyed.

"It can never be put back as it was. Even if you were to rebuild it you couldn't say it was Offa's Dyke."

The 8th century monument consists of a wide ditch and rampart which runs for 82 miles along the border between England and Wales.

It is believed King Offa of Mercia built large sections of it between 757 and 796 to mark the division between his kingdom and Wales to protect his land from invasion.

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It is a criminal offence to disrupt or damage the dyke, which is designated a "scheduled ancient monument" because of its historical significance.

Anyone caught doing so can be punished with six months in jail or a £5,000 fine.

The dyke attracts up to 15,000 visitors a week during the summer - with walkers coming from all over Europe.

But at the time of the damage last August, the landowner said he had "no idea" the area was of national historic importance.

The man, who gave his name only as Danny, claimed: "I've lived here all my life and I've never heard of Offa's Dyke.

"We bought this from a bloke next door and want to put stables on it.

"Nobody said anything to us about a historic monument, it wasn't mentioned."

The well-preserved section of the dyke was on privately owned land between Chirk and Llangollen.

But after a nine-month inquiry, police have admitted no further action would be taken.

North Wales Police spokesman Kevin Evans said: "In August 2013 North Wales Police received a complaint that a section of the Offa's Dyke earthworks in Chirk near Wrexham has been deliberately damaged.

"An investigation by Wrexham CID commenced resulting in a local man being interviewed under caution in connection with the matter.

"As a result of the investigation there was insufficient evidence to prove any criminal offence and the matter is no longer being investigated by North Wales Police."

He added: "You have to prove not just the act but whether there was criminal intent and knowledge that it would be a criminal act."

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