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Withernsea man ordered to pay £1,188 for abandoning car in the town

Monday, 13 October 2025

A man from Withernsea has been prosecuted in court for abandoning a car in the town.

David Kelly of North Promenade, Withernsea, left a blue Saab on the public highway in Young Street for more than four months after registering his vehicle with the DVLA as being off the road and letting its MOT expire.

Kelly failed to attend Beverley Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday 8 October and was found guilty in his absence of the offence of abandoning a vehicle.

He was fined £440, ordered to pay £572.64 costs and a £176 victim surcharge – a total of £1,188.64.

The court heard streetscene enforcement officers at East Riding of Yorkshire Council began investigating the abandoned Saab in December 2024, following a report.

Officers discovered Kelly to be the registered keeper of the car, but despite initial contact and requests to remove the vehicle, no attempt was made to move it and it remained on Young Street. 

Further attempts to contact Kelly were met without response. 

The council then removed the car on 28 April this year.

Kelly was issued with a £200 fixed penalty notice, offering him the chance to discharge his liability, however he failed to pay, so the case was taken to court.

Abandoning a vehicle is a criminal offence. Where they are parked, the condition they are in, whether they have any mechanical defects or unsafe elements, can all cause a problem for the community.

Carl Skelton, director of streetscene services at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: “Abandoned cars can be a real nuisance for residents and become a safety hazard, so we appreciate it when members of the public report them to us.

“We can usually resolve the situation with the owners and get them to move the vehicles themselves, but in cases like this the council will step in to remove them and recover our costs.”

The council deals with vehicles which may be abandoned on both public and private property.  

Officers investigate and always contact the registered owners to establish whether vehicles are abandoned. 

As a result of investigations, most vehicles are removed by owners, only a few have to be removed by the council.

Owners can be issued with a £200 fixed penalty notice for the offence, or a larger fine if the case is taken to court.

For more information or to report an abandoned vehicle visit www.eastriding.gov.uk/abandonedvehicles

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