A Hampshire man has been prosecuted and fined after abandoning a car in Salisbury.
Hayden Key, of Mariners Way, Gosport, was found guilty of leaving a Ford Fiesta on Ford Lane, Old Sarum.
As a result of the hearing, held at Swindon Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday 31 July, he was ordered to pay £1,752 in fines and costs.
The vehicle had first been reported to Wiltshire Council on 10 October 2024.
As it had been left on private land, the landowner was asked to post a notice asking for its removal.
After no action was taken, Environmental Enforcement officers visited the site on 11 December, and found the car in a poor condition. It had a flat tyre, mould on the exterior, rusty brake discs and debris inside.
It was also untaxed and without a valid MOT, prompting a 15-day removal notice.
When the car was still not moved, the council arranged for it to be removed and informed Mr Key of the charges involved in reclaiming it, warning it would be scrapped if not collected within seven days.
Mr Key later admitted to abandoning the vehicle and was offered the chance to pay a £200 fixed penalty notice. He did not do so, and the vehicle was disposed of.
Cllr Martin Smith, Cabinet Member for Highways, Streetscene and Flooding at Wiltshire Council, was pleased with the verdict.
“Our Environmental Enforcement officers investigate all reports of abandoned vehicles. Most are removed by the owners when contacted, but for those truly abandoned, we will issue penalties or prosecute to protect our public highways and land,” he said.
“Abandoning a vehicle is not only a criminal offence, but it can also attract vandalism, rubbish and poses a significant fire risk, negatively affecting our communities and visitors.
“There is also a cost to Wiltshire taxpayers for removal. This case demonstrates our commitment to keeping Wiltshire clean and safe.”
For more information on reporting or claiming an abandoned vehicle, visit: www.wiltshire.gov.uk/parking-abandoned-vehicle.
