Bedford Borough Council has prosecuted three people who abandoned vehicles, as part of a continued crackdown on environmental crime in the Borough.
The convictions, secured at Luton Magistrates Court on Friday, 4 July, resulted in fines totalling more than £4,000.
Florin Vlasa, of Kempston, was found guilty in his absence of abandoning a red Toyota Aygo in Ash Walk, Kempston. The vehicle was untaxed, without an MOT and had a flat tyre.
He was ordered to pay £1,456, including fines, victim surcharge and costs, after ignoring warning notices and a fixed penalty.
Bridie Piggott, of Thurleigh, was also found guilty in her absence after abandoning a silver Vauxhall Astra in Ossory Way, Bedford. The car had been untaxed since March 2024 and had been left for four months.
She was fined the same amount, £1,456, following similar enforcement action.
Makiese Biziki, of Bedford, pleaded guilty to abandoning a blue Volkswagen Touran in Meadway, Bedford. The vehicle was untaxed, unlocked and had flat tyres. He was fined £1,270.
The council removed all three vehicles after warning notices and unpaid penalties.
Environmental crime
Abandoning a vehicle is a criminal offence under the Refuse Disposal Amenity Act 1978, carrying a maximum fine of £2,500 or imprisonment.
Cllr Phillippa Martin-Moran-Bryant (Conservative/Great Barford), Portfolio Holder for Housing and Regulatory Services, said: “These prosecutions demonstrate our zero-tolerance approach to environmental crime.
“Abandoned vehicles cause hazards and blight our streets, but through the dedication of our Enviro Crime team and the support of residents, we are holding offenders accountable. We urge everyone to dispose of vehicles responsibly and help keep Bedford clean and safe.”
The council advises anyone scrapping a car to use a licensed Authorised Treatment Facility (ATF), where vehicles are disposed of safely and free of charge, with a Certificate of Destruction provided.
Bedfordians can report suspected abandoned vehicles or arrange for unwanted vehicles to be collected via the council’s website, bedford.gov.uk/abandoned.
