A man has been convicted of putting up dozens of posters across Wiltshire.
At Swindon Magistrates’ Court on Friday (12 April), Chris Freeman pleaded guilty to nine counts of fly-posting.
The MC, of Magister Road, Melksham, attached at least 52 posters to road traffic signs and pedestrian crossings across the county.
The black-and-white poster advertised his Adrenaline Stompers Festival, which took place at Venom Nightclub in Westbury in 2023.
He was handed a 24-month conditional discharge and was ordered to pay £1,465 in prosecution costs to Wiltshire Council.
A conditional discharge means Freeman won’t be punished for his crime unless he commits another offence within the discharge period.
Councillor Nick Holder, the Cabinet Member for Transport and Street Scene, described the posters as ‘unsightly and distracting’.
In a statement, he said: “We’re committed to reducing fly-posting in Wiltshire, and this prosecution is part of our wider clampdown on this unsightly blight on our communities.
“Since November 2023, we have removed 517 posters and flyers and issued 65 warning letters to fly-posters throughout the county – and we’ll continue to take action to stop fly-posters.
“Fly-posting is a recurring problem that has a detrimental effect on the environment in Wiltshire.
“It’s unsightly, it can distract drivers, it creates a bad impression of an area, and it costs the council thousands of pounds each year to remove.
“This successful prosecution sends a clear message that anyone who does fly-posts in Wiltshire runs the risk of prosecution and fines.”
