A Chadwell Heath resident who ignored warning letters from Barking and Dagenham Council enforcement officers to clean up their garden has been found guilty in court.

Earlier this year, on Wednesday 1 February, Environmental Enforcement Officers responded to a complaint regarding an overgrown front and back garden at a property on Padnall Road, Chadwell Heath.

During the inspection, officers identified that both gardens were overgrown with brambles, nettles and ivy therefore it was determined the gardens would be ideal nesting grounds for pests and vermin.

A warning letter was issued to the owner of the property, a Mr Steven Greenstein, to cut back both gardens within 14 days.

However, when officers visited two weeks later, the work still hadn’t been done and despite Mr Greenstein being issued with a formal legal Notice on 17 February and a Notice of Prosecution on 29 March, the gardens remained an eyesore and overgrown.

The case ultimately went to court and on Tuesday 5 September, Mr Greenstein pled guilty at Barkingside Magistrates Court for failing to properly maintain land in accordance with s.215 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

The Magistrate ordered Mr Greenstein to pay a fine of £287, costs to Barking and Dagenham Council of £250 and a Victim Surcharge of £61, totalling £598.

Councillor Syed Ghani, Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Community Safety said: “Eyesore gardens look awful, show a disregard for your neighbours, and can also be a health risk.

“Enforcement action like this demonstrates the council takes this seriously, and I hope serves as a message for people to clean their acts up."

If residents are aware of an eyesore garden, they can report it to the council online.