Fine and criminal record for abandoning van with graffitied messages about South Cambridgeshire District Council in Cambourne
A man who abandoned a white van in Cambourne, spray-painted with messages about South Cambridgeshire District Council, has been fined £1,884 by magistrates and given a criminal record.
He denied a charge of vehicle abandonment and claimed his graffiti van was a legitimate protest against the local authority, with which he had disputes, but he was found guilty in a hearing at Cambridge Magistrates’ Court.
The defendant was taken to court following an investigation into a series of complaints, including causing a hazard, as the van was parked on a busy roundabout at the entrance to Cambourne, which is home to the district council.
Environmental crime officers from the council attended the site on several occasions, photographing and documenting the vehicle over a period of time and noting its deteriorating condition.
Cambourne residents also contacted the council, complaining it was unsightly and detrimental to the community.
As the van was a hazard to pedestrians and other road users, it was removed and placed into secure storage while attempts were made to get the owner to claim the vehicle.
But the resident did not reclaim the van and failed to co-operate with the local authority, so was issued with a fixed penalty notice (FPN), which he did not pay.
Cllr Natalie Warren-Green, lead cabinet member for environmental services and licensing at South Cambridgeshire District Council, said: “Councils can issue fixed penalty notices where the evidence is sufficient to take a case to court. The option of a fixed penalty notice fine enables people to avoid receiving a larger fine and going to court. In this case, however, the man refused to pay so has ended up much worse off. He has lost his van, must pay a hefty fine and has a criminal record.”
Cllr Shrobona Bhattacharya, a district councillor who represents Cambourne, said: “It’s understandable that residents of Cambourne found it unsettling to see a vehicle abandoned at the entrance to our town.
“This disrupts the appearance of our community but also creates an unwelcoming first impression for everyone entering Cambourne. We must ensure that our shared spaces reflect the pride we have in our town. As a local councillor, I am concerned about the environmental impact of abandoned vehicles. We all take responsibility for keeping our community clean and safe. Let’s work together to protect our environment and uphold the standards that make Cambourne a great place to live.”
Abandoning a vehicle on any land in the open air, or land forming part of a highway, is a criminal offence punishable by a fine of up to £2,500 and up to three months in prison.
An abandoned vehicle at the end of its useful life can also be classified as 'hazardous waste', which carries up to five years in prison with an unlimited fine.
A man who abandoned a white van in Cambourne, spray-painted with messages about South Cambridgeshire District Council, has been fined £1,884 by magistrates and given a criminal record.
He denied a charge of vehicle abandonment and claimed his graffiti van was a legitimate protest against the local authority, with which he had disputes, but he was found guilty in a hearing at Cambridge Magistrates’ Court.
The defendant was taken to court following an investigation into a series of complaints, including causing a hazard, as the van was parked on a busy roundabout at the entrance to Cambourne, which is home to the district council.
Environmental crime officers from the council attended the site on several occasions, photographing and documenting the vehicle over a period of time and noting its deteriorating condition.
Cambourne residents also contacted the council, complaining it was unsightly and detrimental to the community.
As the van was a hazard to pedestrians and other road users, it was removed and placed into secure storage while attempts were made to get the owner to claim the vehicle.
But the resident did not reclaim the van and failed to co-operate with the local authority, so was issued with a fixed penalty notice (FPN), which he did not pay.
Cllr Natalie Warren-Green, lead cabinet member for environmental services and licensing at South Cambridgeshire District Council, said: “Councils can issue fixed penalty notices where the evidence is sufficient to take a case to court. The option of a fixed penalty notice fine enables people to avoid receiving a larger fine and going to court. In this case, however, the man refused to pay so has ended up much worse off. He has lost his van, must pay a hefty fine and has a criminal record.”
Cllr Shrobona Bhattacharya, a district councillor who represents Cambourne, said: “It’s understandable that residents of Cambourne found it unsettling to see a vehicle abandoned at the entrance to our town.
“This disrupts the appearance of our community but also creates an unwelcoming first impression for everyone entering Cambourne. We must ensure that our shared spaces reflect the pride we have in our town. As a local councillor, I am concerned about the environmental impact of abandoned vehicles. We all take responsibility for keeping our community clean and safe. Let’s work together to protect our environment and uphold the standards that make Cambourne a great place to live.”
Abandoning a vehicle on any land in the open air, or land forming part of a highway, is a criminal offence punishable by a fine of up to £2,500 and up to three months in prison.
An abandoned vehicle at the end of its useful life can also be classified as 'hazardous waste', which carries up to five years in prison with an unlimited fine.
Visit the council’s abandoned vehicle webpage to report an abandoned vehicle.
