A MAN who let his garden get so overgrown he had to duck to get in the front door has been fined nearly £1,200.

Braintree Council told Mark Waithman, 50, to trim back bushes around his home in Tidings Hill, Halstead, in July last year.

Most of the windows at the front of the home had been obscured and the back garden was also badly overgrown, leading to complaints from neighbours.

He failed to comply with a Community Protection Notice so the council paid private contractors to undertake the work.

Waithman was then offered the opportunity to pay for this work to avoid legal action, but refused.

He admitted the offence at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on Thursday and was given a 12 month conditional discharge, ordered to pay costs of £1,176 and a £15 victim surcharge.

Halstead Gazette:

On the same day, Edward Newton, 19, of Munro Road in Witham, admitted failing to comply with a penalty notice issued under the Environment Act 1995.

He had been driving a vehicle in The Avenue, Witham, on August 11, when the passenger dumped food packaging out of the window.

The passenger was confronted by a street warden who had witnessed the offence, but refused to give his details and made off.

Newton then refused to provide the council with the passenger’s details.

Magistrates gave him a 12 month conditional discharge, ordered him to pay costs of £601 and a £15 victim surcharge.

Wendy Schmitt, cabinet member for environment and place, said: “These cases show that Braintree Council will not hesitate to take action against householders who make the environment unpleasant for those who live in the area.

“We all have a responsibility to our neighbours and to our local area.”

She added: “Most people have respect for our beautiful district so it is very frustrating when some thoughtless individuals think that laws do not apply to them and that to drop litter is acceptable.

“In this case the passenger made off and the driver of the car would not give us his details so he found himself in court.”