It was left for months and had ‘smashed windows and broken panels’
A man who abandoned a caravan in Bridlington for months has been ordered to pay more than £1,300 including a fine and compensation. It was left on the road on Ravenspurn earlier this year.
Taylor Ford, of no fixed address but formerly of Cleeton Way, Bridlington, was found guilty of abandoning a vehicle during a hearing, which he did not attend, at Beverley Magistrates’ Court last week. The court heard that, following reports, streetscene enforcement officers from East Riding Of Yorkshire Council found the caravan abandoned on the road.
It was in a “dilapidated state with smashed windows and broken panels”. It was left in the same spot between February and May, the council said.
Following investigations, Ford was found to be the caravan’s owner. He was fined £440 and ordered to pay compensation of £550 to the council towards recovery.
He must also pay costs of £150 and a £176 victim surcharge – a total of £1,316.
Abandoning a vehicle is a criminal offence. Where they are parked, the condition they are in, whether they have any mechanical defects or unsafe elements, can all cause problems for the community.
Carl Skelton, director of streetscene services at East Riding Of Yorkshire Council, said: “Abandoned vehicles of any sort can be a real nuisance for residents living nearby and can become a safety hazard.
“We can usually resolve the situation with the owners and get them to move the vehicles themselves, but in cases like this the council will step in to remove them and recover our costs.”
Councils deal with vehicles which may be abandoned on both public and private property. Officers investigate and contact the registered owners to establish whether vehicles are abandoned.
As a result of investigations, most vehicles are removed by the owners. Only a few have to be removed by the council.
Owners can be issued with a £200 fixed penalty notice for the offence, or a larger fine if the case is taken to court.