A man was fined almost £10,000 over a messy garden.

Raymond Gilligan was prosecuted in June this year for ignoring a notice to tidy his overgrown garden at a property in Dorset Square, Rainham.

He promised magistrates he would sort it out, but three months on Gilligan, who lives in Surrey, had not stuck to his word.

The case returned to Medway Magistrates’ Court and he was found guilty in his absence of failing to comply with a notice.

He appeared in court for sentencing on Tuesday and was fined £9,600, costs of £308.52 and a £120 victim surcharge.

Gilligan did eventually get his garden cleared this month, almost a year after the deadline for compliance.

Medway Council’s head of enforcement Cllr Jane Chitty said: “This individual has been given a much greater fine as a result of his blatant disrespect for the law.

"We make every effort to work with people before it gets to this point and this case sets an example that you cannot ignore legal notices - anyone that chooses to do so, will be prosecuted.”