A driver from Scotland, who failed to pay a Fixed Penalty Notice issued by Westmorland and Furness Council, has been ordered to pay a total of £1,116 by Carlisle Magistrates.
Jordan Rae, of Kirkcaldy in Fife, who did not enter a plea, was found guilty in his absence on 1 May 2025.
Mr Rae abandoned his car at Penrith train station for several weeks, breaching parking conditions set by the station.
The vehicle did not have road tax, or a valid MOT.
The council attempted to contact Mr Rae by letter several times. However, Mr Rae did not respond and failed to pay the costs and fine once the council uplifted the vehicle, which was subsequently destroyed.
A council spokesperson said, ‘If you’re the registered keeper of a vehicle, you have a duty to ensure it is parked legally and safely.
“Vehicles that are abandoned by the keeper can lead to environmental issues that will not be tolerated in Westmorland and Furness.
“Not only are they unsightly, they pose a safety risk to the public and can cause damage to the environment, if they leak fluids.
“A responsible vehicle owner also pays for road tax, MOT and insurance. Without these, a vehicle should not be on a public highway.
"This is an example of someone choosing to commit a waste crime in our area and hoping that by ignoring council officers they would get away with it without financial repercussions.
“However, In this case, the opposite has proved to be the case. Mr Rae has received a substantial fine and lost his vehicle.”
Council officers worked with various agencies and across the border with Fife Council to trace the registered keeper of the vehicle. Mr Rae had also failed to update his address on the DVLA database.
The council says that its officers will always conduct thorough investigations in such cases and will seek financial recuperation wherever possible.