Man fined thousands for operating on-street garage

A man who operated an on-street garage from a residential street in Biddulph has been fined over £3,000 and faces prison if he does it again.

Anthony Cooper pleaded guilty to breaching a Community Protection Notice issued by Staffordshire Moorlands District Council in November last year to stop him repairing, maintaining, servicing and selling vehicles on the highway at Congleton Road in the town.

It's the first prosecution of its kind brought by the Council.

Mr Cooper, who is now living in Stoke-on-Trent, did not attend Crewe magistrates court on Monday 12 September but was fined £1,100 and ordered to pay Council costs of £2,018.95 and a victim surcharge of £110 in his absence.

Magistrates also granted a five-year Criminal Behaviour Order against Mr Cooper which could see him jailed if he breaches the order.

Councillor Mike Bowen, cabinet member for communities at the Council, said: "This is a great result for local residents. It sends out a very strong message that this sort of behaviour will not be tolerated and that we will seek to prosecute to protect the wider interests of the local community.

"Mr Cooper's activities were detrimentally affecting his neighbours by taking up parking spaces on the road, creating noise and causing a hazard to other road users on what is a narrow residential street. This is unacceptable and I'm pleased that the court supported us in this view and, in particular, by agreeing the Criminal Behaviour Order which could see Mr Cooper jailed if he breaches it.

"I'd like to thank residents and Council officers for bringing this action to such a successful conclusion."