A race organiser who has continued to flout orders banning the staging of motocross events has shown "complete contempt" for the community.

These were the words of a borough councillor following a court case on Friday which saw Matthew Valedez ordered to pay £3,114.80 for continuing to hold races on land inside the Cloverleaf roundabout on the A2070 in Ashford.

In was only in December that Valedez was previously hit with a fine for ignoring a community protection notice (CPN) ordering the events to cease.

Between March and September 2021 the community safety unit at Ashford Borough Council (ABC) received nearly 70 complaints from the public reporting that noise was continuing throughout the day, mainly at weekends and on public holidays.

On December 13, Valedez appeared before Folkestone Magistrates' Court charged with breaching the CPN and he pleaded guilty.

However, immediately after the hearing, Valedez posted a video clip of himself outside the court on the Ashford MX Facebook page stating that he had won the case and motocross activity on the Cloverleaf site would continue.

Cllr Peter Feacey, ABC portfolio holder for community safety and wellbeing, said: "By continuing to flout the law, this man has shown a complete contempt for the local community.

"By disregarding the community protection notice and organising motocross events at this site he has been responsible for the misery and distress suffered by local residents.

"The council will continue to work closely with Kent Police on monitoring the Cloverleaf site and we will have no hesitation in taking further action if this activity continues to present a nuisance to residents."

Valedez was found guilty in his absence of failing to comply with a CPN after he failed to attend his trial at Folkestone Magistrates' Court on Friday.