Gainsborough: Hefty fine for landlord who left rat-infested rubbish to rot outside property

A Gainsborough landlord has been slapped with a fine for failing to clear piles of rat-infested rubbish accumulating in the rear of her property.

Karen Compton of Glasllwch Crescent, Newport, South Wales, was fined £660 after failing to remove rubbish from the rear of a property she owns in the town.

Mattresses, rubble and bags of rubbish had built up at the back of the property on Frampton Terrace.

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West Lindsey District Council was alerted to the situation in July 2015. As a result, community officer Gaynor Allen and environment protection officer Nigel Periam inspected the property.

They issued a notice for the owner to clear the waste within 28 days, following concerns of rat infestation.

Despite having several opportunities to remedy the situation, Mrs Compton failed to take any action and the council started legal proceedings. In the interim, the council cleared away the rubbish.

Lesley Beevers, regulatory team manager at the council ,said: “Prosecution is often our very last resort-in this case we had little choice.

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“We attempted to work with the landlord who just would not accept responsibility for her own property. The sheer amount of waste that was left outside the property was proving unsightly and was having a detrimental effect on the surrounding community.”

The case was heard at Lincolnshire Magistrates Court on Wednesday, January 13 and Compton was also ordered to pay costs of £957.71 and a £66 victim surcharge.