
'Nightmare' Neighbour fined for rat infested garden in Melton Mowbray
Richard Bates, who lives in Melton Mowbray near Leicester, was approached by his local council in September 2024 over the overgrown vegetation at the front of his house.
He later got formal warnings and a fixed penalty notice, before council workers eventually moved in to tidy up the site.
They were tasked with clearing the 'very overgrown vegetation and any other items that could provide food and harbour vermin'.
While carrying out the work, they found a rat's nest in the garden, which Melton Borough Council described as a 'nightmare'.
On July 9 at Leicester Magistrates' Court, the matter was found proved in Bates' absence and he received a £500. More Trending
He was also ordered to pay £500 towards the council's costs and a victim charge of £200, while the council said he would also be recharged for the cost of the works.
Bates was found proved of failing to comply with a community protection notice.
Councillor Sarah Cox, portfolio holder for corporate finance, property and resources at the council, said: 'Even with support from our teams, the resident failed to adhere to the conditions set out to him, forcing us to take necessary action to keep the area clean and free of pests.
'We take issues such as anti-social behaviour very seriously.
'If a supportive approach fails, we will not hesitate to enforce and act to keep our communities a safe and thriving place to live.'
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.
MORE: Man made friend strip before 'parading' him through Welsh village naked
MORE: Afghan veteran warns data breach poses shadow threat 'for years to come'
MORE: Three minutes cut from 'raw' prison footage of the night Epstein died
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Scottish Sun
5 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Councillor ‘reported to cops for racial hatred' after asking if homeless vets will get same support as migrants in hotel
It comes after details of a billion-pound Government cover-up were revealed ASYLUM HOTEL FURY Councillor 'reported to cops for racial hatred' after asking if homeless vets will get same support as migrants in hotel Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A COUNCILLOR who asked if homeless veterans could also be housed in migrant hotels was allegedly reported to cops for "stirring up hate". Cllr John Edwards claims he was "smeared" after he questioned Bracknell Forest Council's decision to house more than 300 Afghan migrants in four-star hotels in favour of hard-hit locals. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Cllr Edwards said his reputation had been harmed, despite his claims of a cover-up turning out to be true Credit: Conservatives 5 The Government was forced to cover up the relocation of thousands of Afghans after a major MOD email blunder Credit: AP 5 Cllr Edwards called for migrants to be treated with 'respect and dignity', but admitted he was worried for residents Credit: PA The independent councillor, who serves on Sandhurst Town Council, was reportedly put under investigation after he called for more clarity when hundreds of Afghans were placed in local hotels. He was allegedly reported by Labour councillor Cherise Welch, who accused him of "stirring up hate" after he suggested that key information was being withheld from Berkshire residents. But it has since been revealed that the Government secretly relocated thousands of Afghans to the UK following a major Ministry of Defence email blunder. Writing on his Facebook in April, Cllr Edwards called for the migrants to be treated with "respect and dignity", but admitted he was worried for the knock-on effect for desperate residents. He said: "Bracknell is resettling over 300 Afghans in a local hotel—and I don't believe residents are being told the full story. "I'm increasingly concerned that key information is either being withheld or presented in a way that makes it difficult to see how unfair this scheme is. "I want to make it clear that everyone arriving on this scheme must be treated with respect and dignity. But I also believe it's completely reasonable to ask what impact this scheme will have on our area. "If the money is there to house Afghans in a four-star hotel, why aren't any of the Labour, Lib Dem or Conservative councillors asking why this hasn't been provided for Bracknell's veterans or residents first? "As a Town Councillor, I felt compelled to look into this and speak up, because no other elected representative was." In response, Cllr Welch suggested the post was "complete nonsense", adding she had reported him to "the MOD, Council and local police". Others accused the concerned councillor of "spreading far-right propaganda" and targeting "specific ethnic groups". Speaking to the MailOnline, Cllr Edwards explained he had not been contacted by the police, but said his reputation had been harmed, despite his claims of a cover-up turning out to be true. Defence chiefs braced for £1BILLION compensation bill over Afghan data leak scandal He added: "The council has fuelled a narrative that I'm spreading hate and misinformation, despite my claims being true. "Another councillor has said publicly they have reported me to the police for stirring racial hatred. "It's stressful and potentially very harmful to my reputation. 'It's a way to smear and silence me, and it has a chilling effect which amounts to, 'disagree with the council and you will be call a racist'." He posted pictures of the interior and exterior facilities in the hotel, blurring out the background to conceal the location. But he was also accused of identifying the hotel by posting the images, which he strongly denies. Earlier this month, it emerged that almost 20,000 Afghans had been secretly relocated to the UK after a major Ministry of Defence error. The February 2022 leak was caused by a Special Forces soldier who accidentally shared a list of 18,714 people who had applied to flee to Britain in the wake of the 2021 Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. The list also included names of their individual UK sponsors including SAS and MI6 spies and at least one Royal Marine Major General. The clumsy click has potential to be the most expensive data breach in history. A total of 18,714 Afghans were included on the secret list, many of whom arrived via unmarked planes which landed at Stansted airport. Although Defence Secretary John Healey has said that the cost of relocating the Afghans and their families will total £400 million, the final cost could be even higher. The information was kept a secret for 18 months through a superinjunction used by the MoD – the first time one had been used by the Government against the press. Around 100,000 were put at risk of Taliban death squads when their names or loved ones were revealed in 2022 — with the blunder then 'covered up' by the gagging order. Almost 900 Afghans on the 'kill list' email leak are ready to sue — with lawyers saying thousands more are poised to join them. Legal sources claimed victims whose lives were endangered could be entitled 'to five-figure payouts'. Councillor Welch has been approached for comment. 5 Cllr John Edwards was reported to the police for questioning the decision to house Afghans over locals Credit: Facebook / Cllr John Edwards


Daily Record
10 hours ago
- Daily Record
Killers who murdered vulnerable man before dumping body cost taxpayers £40k in legal aid
Amanda Welsh, Connor Thomas and Laura McHugh set upon Joseph McGready in a vicious attack before dumping his body in a communal close. Three killers who lured a vulnerable man to a flat and then repeatedly stabbed him have cost taxpayers almost £40,000 in legal aid. Amanda Welsh, 49, Connor Thomas, 29, and Laura McHugh, 32, targeted Joseph McGready in a vicious attack. He was accused of theft and then set upon by the three thugs at the property in Maryhill, Glasgow, before he was dumped in a communal close. The callous trio denied murder but were convicted at the High Court in Glasgow and jailed for life. Welsh was handed a minimum of 17-and-a-half years, Thomas ordered to serve 18 years and McHugh given 17 years. It has now emerged the killers have so far been given £37,760 in legal aid to fund their defence teams. McHugh was given £19,462 while Welsh was handed £12,472 and Thomas got £5,826. But the figures are likely to increase further as solicitors have four months following the conclusion of proceedings to claim payments from the Scottish Legal Aid Board (SLAB). Their trial heard Mr McGready had called for help as he was being struck but was left bleeding as his killers fled in September 2023. Welsh and McHugh later spent the night in a hotel while their victim passed away days later in hospital. McHugh later told detectives there had been a 'free for all' at her flat but denied being responsible. She claimed Welsh initially slashed Mr McGready before Thomas struck him 'five or six times'. McHugh claimed she had been 'terrified' but admitted helping lift Mr McGready from the flat and putting him on the landing. Mr McGready was said to have pleaded: "Please stop, please stop." Welsh admitted slashing Mr McGready, but denied any further attack. Judge Lord Matthews told the trio the 'untimely and needless loss' of Mr McGready had caused 'incalculable' grief to his friends and family. A spokesperson for SLAB said: " Legal aid is paid directly to legal representatives to ensure the defence of those accused of serious and sometimes reprehensible crimes is properly prepared, to minimise delays in trials and to help ensure a jury can reach an appropriate verdict." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.


Metro
12 hours ago
- Metro
At least six dead after gunman opens fire at popular market in Bangkok
At least six people have been killed in a mass shooting at a food market in Thailand. The attack happened at Or Tor Kor – a market usually buzzing with tourists – in the Chatuchak district in northern Bangkok. Got a story? Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ Or you can submit your videos and pictures here. For more stories like this, check our news page. Follow on Twitter and Facebook for the latest news updates. You can now also get articles sent straight to your device. Sign up for our daily push alerts here. MORE: Map shows Thailand-Cambodia border where UK tourists warned to 'take extra care' MORE: Nine bar staff arrested for beating on British tourist over £460 bill MORE: Woman 'filmed herself having sex with Buddhist monks and blackmailed them for £9,000,000'