Noisy neighbour faces the music

A heavy fine has been handed out to a Stevenage resident after complaints from neighbours about persistent loud noise from his property.

Stevenage Borough Council received a series of complaints from neighbours of a flat in Macrae Close, about persistent noise from loud music, and on 20th April 2020 the occupier, Mr Niky Comas, was served with a noise abatement notice under Section 80 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, prohibiting him from causing further noise nuisance by playing loud music.

Comas ignored the abatement notice and continued to play loud music, resulting in repeated complaints being made to the Council by his neighbours.

As a result, the Council took enforcement action and on 2 July officers entered Comas’ flat under a warrant obtained from the Magistrate’s court and seized a number of items of music equipment, including a Hi-Fi system and several speakers.

In addition, he was prosecuted in the Magistrate’s court and found guilty of six offences of failing to comply with a noise abatement notice.

He was fined £220 for each offence, plus a £132 surcharge and full legal costs amounting to £1,317.49 - a total of £2,769.49.

As well as the fine and legal costs that he now has to pay, as a result of the forfeiture order made by the court, the equipment seized from his flat on 2 July will not be returned to him.

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