Chippenham man fined after failing to pay parking fines
Kyle Rigley also damaged a clamp put on his car by Enforcement Officers
A man from Chippenham has been ordered to pay £365 after repeatedly failing to pay parking fines and damaging a clamp put on his car.
Kyle John Rigely, of Assart Way, admitted to criminal damage and interfering with goods in court, after enforcement officers had put the clamp on his car.
However, he forcibly removed the device, damaging it and interfering with the legal enforcement process. His car has since been seized and will be sold to cover the outstanding debt.
The incident happened during a week of wider action by Wiltshire Council and Rundles Enforcement Agents as they targeted those who regularly avoiding paying fines across the county. During the week, Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) was used to monitor hotspot areas, locate offending vehicles and claim outstanding debts.
It resulted in almost £3,500 being recovered, with 32 cases paid in full and eight vehicles clamped.
Cllr Martin Smith, Cabinet Member for Highways, said: "Parking regulations exist to ensure fairness and safety for all road users. This case highlights the consequences of ignoring parking fines and damaging public property.
"This successful prosecution was part of a wider joint operation with Rundles, which has already recovered thousands of pounds in unpaid fines and sent a strong message to persistent offenders. Our enforcement officers work hard to support local residents and businesses, and they deserve to carry out their duties without obstruction or fear of abuse.
"We will continue to take firm action against those who ignore parking regulations and damage public property. Similarly, we want to encourage people to engage with us at an early stage if they're struggling to pay or have concerns. Ignoring fines can only make the situation worse, and failure to make payments could result in court action, criminal charges, and the loss of personal property."