Drone footage present the horrific scale of a landowner’s rubbish-strewn tip at a magnificence spot – which has left taxpayers with a invoice of greater than £40k following a 10-year battle.
Maidstone Council has spent important sums and virtually a decade pursuing Langley Beck over his 14-hectare plot which is a part of the North Downs in Kent.
The authority began enforcement motion in 2014 after it discovered the land plagued by damaged automobiles and waste.
Beck was beforehand described as having a ‘hoarding dysfunction’ in a parallel contempt of courtroom case, for which he was given a suspended jail sentence.
He was because of be sentenced over his plot in Boxley Woods, to the north of Maidstone in Kent, on June 5 final 12 months, after being convicted of breaching planning rules.
Maidstone Council has spent important sums and virtually a decade pursuing Langley Beck over his 14-hectare plot at Boxley Woods
The land – situated in an Space of Excellent Pure Magnificence – is plagued by damaged automobiles and waste
Langley Beck (pictured) was beforehand described as having a ‘hoarding dysfunction’ in a parallel contempt of courtroom case
The positioning (pictured) is situated a number of miles outdoors of Maidstone in an Space of Excellent Pure Magnificence
However he turned as much as the listening to at Maidstone Crown Court docket unrepresented by a solicitor and requested for a postponement.
He mentioned he was unable to afford illustration and was ready on his utility for Common Credit score to return via.
One other listening to has been set, the place Beck faces an infinite monetary fantastic.
Maidstone Borough Council has already spent £43,000 of taxpayers’ cash pursuing Beck via the courts.
Scott Stemp, prosecuting, informed the Friday listening to that Beck had beforehand been represented at hearings by Irwin Mitchell solicitors.
However the agency has since withdrawn its providers as a result of it was not being paid.
Mr Stemp identified that in addition to the land in dispute, Beck additionally owned 11 acres and a close-by cottage at Westfield Sole Farm in Harp Farm Highway.
Maidstone Borough Council began enforcement motion in 2014 after he left the land (pictured) plagued by garbage
Family garbage might be seen littered amongst the timber at Boxley Woods
Varied automobiles together with lorries, vans and automobiles might be seen on the website
An outline of the location at Boxley Woods situated within the North Downs in Kent
The sentencing listening to had already been postponed twice – as soon as due to difficulties discovering a courtroom, and as soon as as a result of Beck had failed to point out up.
Beck informed the decide, Mr Recorder Fowler, that it was his intention to take his case to the Court docket of Human Rights.
Beck mentioned he had suffered ’21 years of persecution by these soiled, mendacity, sons of b*****s (the council)’ and he described the listening to as ‘an invite to a neck-tie celebration’.
In a parallel case, through which Beck had appeared within the Excessive Court docket for contempt of courtroom, his defence had claimed that he was unfit to plead as a result of he suffered from a ‘hoarding dysfunction’.
That was rejected on the Excessive Court docket final April by Mr Justice Sweeting, and Beck was convicted of contempt of courtroom for failing to adjust to a earlier order to clear up the land and he was given a four-month jail sentence suspended for 2 years.
It’s also alleged that Beck has additionally been residing in a short lived constructing on the plot (pictured) with out planning permission
Tyres littered amongst timber at Boxley Woods close to Maidstone
Mr Beck was beforehand ordered to start out clearing the land and transfer away however had continued his dumping of waste
Mr Beck has been utilizing the location as a dumping floor for outdated automobiles and different gadgets
Mr Recorder Fowler mentioned he was ready to offer Beck 5 weeks to seek out authorized illustration.
He mentioned: ‘I’m conscious that there are particular psychiatric points that will make it undesirable for Mr Beck to talk on his personal behalf.’
He informed Beck: ‘I provide you with this one alternative to get illustration. However when you come again with out illustration, the case will proceed anyway.
‘If you don’t seem, a warrant will probably be issued on your arrest.’
Beck has additionally been residing in a short lived constructing on the plot with out planning permission, it was mentioned.
He was beforehand banned for all times from holding animals after locking up canines in their very own filth – and failing to let geese have water.
