Noisy rag and bone man fined

A MoDeRn day rag and bone man has been ordered to pay more than £1,200 by a court for using a noisy loudspeaker on his truck.

Scrap metal collector Gareth Banner ignored repeated warnings from council bosses about noise nuisance.

he was found guilty of using a loudspeaker to advertise his business, Taffy’s Scrap Metal Collection.

Banner was prosecuted by east Staffordshire Borough Council under the Control of Pollution Act 1974. Despite the warnings, council officials witnessed him sounding his loudspeaker in the street from his truck.

Banner, who failed to attend Stafford Magistrates’ Court, was fined £200 with costs of £986.52 and a victim surcharge of £20. Councillor Sonia Andjelkovic, deputy leader for regulatory services, said: ‘The illegal use of amplified equipment to advertise services in public places will not be tolerated.’