Unlicensed scrap dealer must pay £2,000 in fines and costs

AN unlicensed scrap metal dealer will have to pay nearly £2,000 in fines after he was caught collecting metal unlawfully by Warrington Borough Council.
Patrick Mongans, from Ennis, Co Claire, Ireland, was found guilty in his absence at Warrington Magistrates and fined £1,173, with costs of £662 and a victim surcharge of £117 to be paid within 28 days.
The court heard Mongans, aged 34, had been stopped by Cheshire Police on Old Liverpool Road, Sankey Bridges on August 10 last year.  One of the council’s environmental crime officers was passing and assisted the police officer.
The council officer carried out some checks on and found that Mongans was carrying and collecting scrap metal and also that he did not have a waste carrier’s licence. Mongans was reported for the offence of transporting waste without a waste carriers licence and was later offered the opportunity to pay a fixed penalty notice of £300 which he failed to pay and was taken to court.
After the hearing, Cllr Judith Guthrie, the borough council’s lead member for environment and public protection, said: “Anyone who transports waste must have a valid waste carriers licence issued by the Environment Agency and scrap metal collectors must have a licence from the local authority. We would strongly advise that any residents who wish to use a scrap metal collector ensure that they are licensed correctly.
“We have reputable and licensed collectors in Warrington and would encourage people in the borough to use those firms if they have any work that needs doing.”