Ian Beesley admits digging up the road but denies criminal damage.

Ian Beesley, 42, dug up the �300 hump with his JCB six weeks after it was installed to allow children to cross the road, Oxford Magistrates' Court heard.

Mr Beesley, from Oxford, denies causing criminal damage.

On Thursday night Home Secretary David Blunkett said he had "a great deal of sympathy" for Mr Beesley having himself suffered from sleepless nights.

I just lost it, I was pushed into it, my nerves were getting very short Ian Beesley

Mr Blunkett told Sky News: "I am sorry he felt he had to do it.

But he continued: "I am sure in court he will be big enough to apologise and the council will be big enough to find a solution."

TV footage

Earlier in court, Jonathan Coode, prosecuting, showed television news footage of Mr Beesley destroying the hump last November.

Mr Beesley, of Ferry Hinksey Road, admitted he knew he was breaking the law - but acted after suffering sleepless nights.

In the video, Mr Beesley was seen at the controls of the digger as it destroyed the road hump.

Mr Coode said Mr Beesley planned the hump's destruction with friends in a pub.

Mr Beesley gave himself up to police after the hump was destroyed

Andrew Vidovic, an assistant engineer at Oxfordshire County Council's environmental services department, admitted no consideration was given to noise levels when the plans were drawn up.

He said a new, less noisy obstacle had now been built but insisted the original design was appropriate.

He admitted the change in the type of hump used was a "direct result" of Mr Beesley's actions.

Mr Beesley, who suffered a stroke in February last year, told the court he felt "dog rough" from lack of sleep after the hump was installed.

But he "never gave a thought" about the children the bump was designed to protect.

Mr Beesley said the first night the hump was installed was "bloody horrendous".

"Trucks were flying down the road, braking hard with their air brakes.

"Then you would have trucks going over the hump and accelerating away with their axles banging, then you would hear tailgates banging, " he said.

He said the skip lorries made the most noise.

"It was stressing me out a little bit and I was getting a bit short tempered.

'Short nerves'

"I was just too tired to function, getting argumentative."

After complaining to the authorities, Mr Beesley was finally contacted by council planning chief David Robertson who told him he would look into the matter.

But Mr Beesley "snapped" after being woke in the early hours by truck.

"I just lost it, I was pushed into it, my nerves were getting very short.

"All I wanted was some sleep, that's all this is about," he said.

The trial was adjourned until Friday.