AN AMESBURY man has been ordered to pay more than £3,500 in fines and costs, for collecting scrap metal without a license.

Steven Dickel, of Antrobus Road, Amesbury, was found guilty of two incidents that fell under the Scrap Metal Dealer Act 2013. heard at Salisbury Magistrates' Court on Monday, October 7.

Consequently he has been ordered to pay £3,754.

This was the ninth offender prosecuted by Wiltshire Council, following a Gloucester man being ordered to pay more than £16,000 for similar activity.

Councillor Sven Hocking, portfolio holder for Streetscene said: “We will continue to target unlicensed scrap metal collectors that operate within our authority area.

"These illegal traders undercut legitimate, licensed scrap collectors and have not been vetted to ensure they are ‘fit and proper’ to operate lawfully.

"Before using any scrap metal collector, please ensure that you ask for both their upper tier waste carriers’ licence and scrap metal dealer licence. Licensed collectors will also have their hologram photocard licence displayed in their vehicle.”

Residents can report anyone who they believe is an unlicensed scrap metal collector using Wiltshire Council’s online reporting tool ‘My Wiltshire'.

The public are advised to be extremely cautious of ‘cash for scrap’ operators within the county, and can also report unlicensed scrap metal detectors through the Wiltshire Council website.