Five County Durham residents have been fined a collective £5000 in court this week after failing to clear their gardens and leaving waste and rubbish dumped in them. 

The prosecutions, brought by Durham County Council were heard in Peterlee and Newton Aycliffe Magistrates' Courts. 

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The county council prosecutes people in court after they have issued Community Protection Notices to people - trying to work with the residents. 

Here are the five people that have been in court for the offences this week.

  • Margaret Ayemoba, a landlord from Victoria Street, Kent has been prosecuted for failing to comply with a Community Protection Notice in relation to waste in a property in Queen Street, Grange Villa. They now have a total of £1147 in fines and costs to pay.
  • Jill Davison, from Derwent Street, Stanley has been prosecuted for failing to comply with a Community Protection Notice in relation to waste in their garden. They now have a total of £726 in fines and costs to pay.
  • Karl Andrew Glease, from Ely Terrace, Oxhill has been prosecuted for failing to comply with a Community Protection Notice in relation to waste in their garden. They now have a total of £1455 in fines and costs to pay.
  • Bethany Morrow, from Witton Court, Sacriston has been prosecuted for failing to comply with a Community Protection Notice in relation to waste in their garden. They now have a total of £1034 in fines and costs to pay.
  • Lesley Platten, from Westfields, Stanley has been prosecuted for failing to comply with a Community Protection Notice in relation to waste in their garden. They now have a total of £839 in fines and costs to pay.


Following the court fines, a spokesperson for Durham County Council said: "Our aim is always to work with residents when we have reports of waste in gardens however sometimes, residents refuse to co-operate which then leads us to prepare casefiles for the courts."