Man's messy garden costs him £1000

A man has been ordered to pay almost a thousand pounds after failing to clear his garden of unsightly waste.

Following a complaint, a neighbourhood warden asked Joseph Cowie, of Rose Crescent in Sacriston, to remove an accumulation of rubbish in his garden, including a car, caravan, metal and other general household items.

In August 2016, the warden issued Cowie with a Community ProtectionWarning requiring the waste to be removed within seven day.

But on returning to the property, he found the rubbish was still there, so the 51-year- old was handed a Community Protection Notice – giving him another 14 days to clear the waste.

Despite repeated requests for it to be cleared, by February 2017 the waste was still there.

At Newton Aycliffe Magistrates Court, Cowie was found to have failed to comply with the terms of a Community Protection Notice and was ordered to pay a fine of £440, costs of £419.50 and a victim surcharge of £44.00 within 21 days.

The court also made a remedial order, requiring him to clear the waste at the property within 28 days.

Should he fail to do so, the matter will be referred back to court requestinghe will be ordered to pay £50 per day for every day he is in default or is committed to prison.