Illegal scrap metal dealer must pay nearly £2,000

A 33-year-old Warrington man has been ordered to pay nearly £2,000 for illegal scrap metal dealing.
Ian Parker, of Bryant Avenue, Latchford was found guilty in his absence when he failed to turn up at Warrington Combined Court to answer a charge of operating as a scrap metal dealer without a licence
The court was told Parker was seen in April this year driving a vehicle carrying a large quantity of scrap metal. When questioned, he denied that he was collecting scrap metal and stated that he had simply borrowed the vehicle.
However, a search of the vehicle revealed a number of invoices showing he had been weighing in metal at a site in Widnes over the course of a month.
To operate as a scrap metal dealer, a license needs to be applied for through the borough council.
Asd a result, Parker was summonsed to appear at court but failed to attend and was found guilty in his absence. He was fined £660 for the offence and ordered to pay a contribution to costs of £1202.50 and a victim surcharge of £66.
After the hearing, Cllr Judith Guthrie (pictured), the council’s lead member for Environment and Public Protection, said : “There are strict laws and regulations around the collection and disposal of scrap metal. This man’s actions undermine legitimate scrap metal collectors operating within Warrington.
“Collecting scrap metal without a licence is unacceptable and as I hope this case shows that the council will not tolerate this kind of blatant disregard for the law.”