Sylvester Ajudua, of Moore Avenue, South Stifford, has been given a conditional discharge and ordered to pay £600 costs after admitting he failed to clear rubbish from the rear of his property.
On Monday (2 April) Ajudua pleaded guilty at Basildon Magistrates to the charge relating to the Prevention of Damage by Pests Act 1949.
The court heard Thurrock Council issued a notice in October 2011 which ordered Ajudua to clear the area of rubbish including a mattress and chair. Admitting the offence, Ajudua said he had not been aware the land belonged to him and that had been out of country when the notice was served.
The rubbish has since been cleared and the court took this and the early guilty plea into account before issuing the conditional discharge.
Thurrock Council Head of Public Protection, Lucy Magill said: “Property owners need to take responsibility for the condition and cleanliness of their land. Not only is rubbish unsightly it can attract vermin.”
