A MAN from London who abandoned his car on the A303 near Amesbury has been hit with a £2,869 fine.

Wiltshire Council received multiple reports in July 2024 that a Skoda Octavia had been abandoned near Cholderton.

The untaxed car was found with a note on the windscreen declaring it had broken down, with a phone number attached.

When called, a man who identified himself as the owner said he would move the car within 24 hours.

But this deadline passed without a sign of the car being moved.

Two days later, the vehicle had not moved and was still untaxed, with evidence of rusty brake discs and the car covered in debris.

A seven-day abandoned vehicle removal notice was issued and posted on the windscreen of the vehicle.

Following a DVLA check, the owner was identified as Jeremy Lopes of Park Avenue, Southall, Earling.

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He was contacted by environmental enforcement officers and notified of the charges involved in reclaiming the vehicle and the disposal costs if not reclaimed.

He was also issued with a fixed penalty notice of £200 for abandoning the vehicle. To date this remains unpaid resulting in the court prosecution.

The case was heard at Swindon Magistrates’ Court on Friday 13 June, and was proven in his absence. He was fined a total of £2,869, including costs and compensation.

Councillor Martin Smith, cabinet member for highways, streetscene and flooding said: “Our environmental enforcement officers investigate every report of abandoned vehicles.

“Most are removed by the owners when we contact them, but for those that have been truly abandoned, we will seek to issue fixed penalties or prosecute to protect our public highways or land.

“We want to take responsibility for the environment and protect Wiltshire’s beautiful countryside and scenic views.

“Abandoning a vehicle is not only a criminal offence, but it can also attract vandalism and rubbish, potentially having a negative effect on our visitors and residents.

“There is also a cost to Wiltshire taxpayers for having it removed. I hope this case shows that we take the abandoning of vehicles seriously and will act to deter people from considering doing this in the future.”

Visit www.wiltshire.gov.uk/parking-abandoned-vehicle for information about how to report or claim an abandoned vehicle.