A MAN has been ordered to pay £650 after refusing to settle a £150 fixed-penalty notice issued for abandoning a Ford Fiesta on an residential road.

Gary Castle, aged 21, of Wyke, Gillingham, was prosecuted at Weymouth Magistrates' Court by Dorset Council.

The court heard that on May 15, last year, a Dorset Council enforcement officer visited Fairey Crescent, Gillingham, after receiving a complaint regarding an abandoned vehicle.

A seven-day notice was placed on the windscreen of the Ford Fiesta car and a DVLA check was carried out, which confirmed Castle as the registered keeper.

Prosecutors said that a letter was sent to Castle's home address requesting removal of the car within seven days, and failure to remove it would result in it being removed and placed in storage.

No response from Castle was forthcoming, the court heard.

Then, on May 30 – following a visit earlier that day by the enforcement officer – arrangements were made for the car to be removed.

Castle was also spoken to at that time and informed of the situation.

Magistrates were told that when Castle was spoken to in person by the enforcement officer, who also issued a fixed penalty notice directly to him, Castle responded: "I will not be paying the fine."

After receiving a reminder to pay the fixed penalty notice, no payment was received.

The car was not recovered and subsequently destroyed and Castle was taken to court by Dorset Council's legal team.

On January 9, at Weymouth Magistrates' Court, Castle was fined £200, ordered to pay £300 costs and £150 compensation for costs relating to the removal, storage and disposal of the Fiesta.

Cllr Tony Alford, portfolio holder for customer, community and regulatory services at Dorset Council, said: "This is a great result for Gillingham residents and I’d like to thank all the officers involved for their hard work in bringing this case to court.

"Our enforcement team received around 450 reports of abandoned vehicles on Dorset’s roads in the last 12 months.

"Each of these are investigated by our enforcement team, who can issue fixed penalty notices to those owners who fail to comply with the law.

"Failure to pay a fixed penalty notice will result in further action being taken by Dorset Council.

"Abandoned vehicles are unsightly and annoying for nearby residents, creating further congestion on our roads and other public places.

"If you suspect a vehicle has been abandoned, please make a note of the registration number and any other descriptive details, and let us know at www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/abandoned-vehicles."