Melton Borough Council have prosecuted a resident of the town following an ongoing case regarding an unsightly property.
Mr Mark Williams was found guilty of failing to comply with a Community Protection Notice (CPN) at Leicester Magistrates Court on 2 November.
Following several complaints received by the council regarding his property in Kirby Lane, Melton Borough Council issued Mr Williams a CPN. The site had scrap metal, waste, unsightly items, and dilapidated vehicles in the front and back gardens. The notice required Mr Williams to remove and correctly dispose of the items within a specified period.
Mr Williams failed to comply with the requirements set out within the notice which resulted in Melton Borough Council’s Safer Communities Team working in partnership with their Legal Team to prosecute under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.
Having pleaded not guilty to the offence, Mr Williams appeared at Leicester Magistrates Court On 2nd November 2023 for trial. Mr Williams acknowledged an awareness during the trial that the waste may have had an impact on the local community.
Following the trial, Mr Williams was found guilty by the magistrates and fined £700 and ordered to pay a £280 victim surcharge. The Council was also awarded £2050 in costs for the prosecution.
Alongside the fine, the courts issued an order to the defendant requiring the works to be carried out within a specified date.
Councillor Pat Cumbers portfolio holder for Customers, Communities and Neighbourhoods, said “We are satisfied with the outcome of this successful prosecution. We take reports of anti-social behaviour very seriously, and this is an example of the consequences of not adhering to a Community Protection Notice. Whilst we always look to a supportive approach in the first instance, the Council will not hesitate to enforce and act against such behaviour.
Even with the continued support of our Safer Communities Team the resident failed to adhere to the conditions set out to him, which has negatively impacted those living in, and passing through the surrounding area. This case was an extreme example of anti-social behaviour, and this prosecution will hopefully bring closure to what has been an extended period of unrest for neighbouring properties.”
