He ‘registered his vehicle with the DVLA as being off the road and let its MOT expire’
A man has been ordered to pay almost £1,200 after abandoning a car in Withernsea. The Saab was left on Young Street for more than four months despite being registered with the DVLA as being off the road and letting its MOT expire.
David Kelly, of North Promenade, Withernsea, failed to attend Beverley Magistrates’ Court on October 8 and was found guilty in his absence of the offence of abandoning a vehicle. He was fined £440, ordered to pay £572.64 costs and a £176 victim surcharge – a total of £1,188.64.
Streetscene enforcement officers at East Riding Of Yorkshire Council began investigating the abandoned car in December 2024 after a report was made to them. The court heard that officers found Kelly to be the registered keeper of the car.
However, despite initial contact and requests to remove the vehicle, no attempt was made to move it and it was left on Young Street. Further attempts to contact Kelly were met without response.
The council eventually removed the car on April 28 this year. Kelly was then issued with a £200 fixed penalty notice, offering the chance to discharge his liability. However, he failed to pay so the case was taken to court.
Carl Skelton, director of streetscene services at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: “Abandoned cars can be a real nuisance for residents and become a safety hazard, so we appreciate it when members of the public report them to us.
“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.”
The council says it deals with vehicles which may be abandoned on both public and private property. A spokesperson added: “Officers investigate and always contact the registered owners to establish whether vehicles are abandoned.
“As a result of investigations, most vehicles are removed by 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.”
For more information or to report an abandoned vehicle visit www.eastriding.gov.uk/abandonedvehicles
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