A man has been made to pay almost £3,000 by a court after ignoring a warning to drive out pigeons and rats from his Folkestone house.

Following complaints from neighbours about the condition of the Radnor Park Crescent house and the pest problem, Folkestone and Hythe District Council made several informal attempts to engage with the property owner.

The authority eventually issued a Community Protection Notice, which gave Ghaled Chadid of Egerton Gardens, London, 21 days to block access to the pests, but he failed to comply.

Chadid was then summoned to appear at Folkestone Magistrates' Court last Wednesday, February 7, for a hearing, but did not appear.

The property owner was consequently prosecuted in his absence. Magistrates fined Chadid £2,000 and ordered him to pay a £800 victim surcharge, as well as costs of £180.

A council spokesman said: “We tried to work with the property owner but due to his lack of contact with us we were unable to resolve the issues and legal proceedings became necessary.

“Going to court is a last resort but a step that we will take when the quality of life for nearby residents is impacted to such a great extent.”

The council will consider what further steps may be necessary if the property owner fails to take action now.

Photographs released by the council also show the property in a state of disrepair, with a section of the roof collapsed and some overgrown foliage.