A man has been fined a total of £7,000 for leaving his front and back gardens completely overgrown - since 2012.

Landlord Leighton Dowding left the otherwise ordinary terraced house in Downend, completely empty - and didn't get anyone to come and do the garden for at least seven years.

The 45-year-old moved to Brighton, and left the house in Grace Road abandoned.

South Gloucestershire Council issued him with orders to sort it out, but he failed to do anything, and the back garden got so overgrown it was a nightmare for the neighbours, while the front garden became a spot where people dumped their rubbish.

For failing to comply with a Remedial Order under the Anti-Social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act, magistrates fined Dowding £4,800, and added on £2,200 in costs, plus a victim surcharge.

At a hearing earlier this month, magistrates in Bristol heard the mid-terrace house in Grace Road has remained unoccupied for more than six years and, since at least 2012, has been left “wholly unmaintained”.

How the garden at Leighton Dowdings Downend property looked before the clear-up

The large front and rear gardens became extensively overgrown and, despite a community protection notice served on Dowding in August 2017, he failed to clear the land or remove the piled-up waste.

At the hearing on Wednesday, June 5, magistrates were told the landlord did not even start the work and the property’s condition deteriorated further.

In May last year, Dowding pleaded guilty to failing to comply with the notice at Brighton magistrates’ court and was fined £1,000 plus £1,600.

A remedial order was then issued by the court with a deadline for compliance of July 29, 2018.

But the owner still failed to carry out the work, apart from removing the waste.

Bristol magistrates ruled last week that Dowding had ignored the court order and convicted him of failing to comply with the notice issued by the Brighton court in 2018.

South Gloucestershire Council cabinet member for planning, transport and strategic environment Cllr Steve Reade said after the hearing: “We are working to bring long-term empty properties in our area back into use to help meet the local housing need.

“Before following this course of action, we had previously written to and contacted the owner several times about their property and repeatedly offered advice and assistance, without any continuing response.

How the garden at Leighton Dowdings Downend property looked after the clear-up

“Where necessary, we will use enforcement powers to bring empty properties back into use which require an owner to maintain the property in reasonable condition if it is adversely affecting the locality.

“Allowing empty properties to continue to have a detrimental effect on the local neighbourhood will not be tolerated.”

The council previously launched formal action against Dowding in 2014 under planning enforcement legislation where they undertook a site clearance resulting from non-compliance with a notice.

While this initially brought some relief to neighbours, the persistent neglect of the gardens continued, the local authority said.

The latest case had been adjourned from April 24 for the defendant to carry out the works as assured to the court, ahead of sentencing for the failure to comply with the remedial order.

Following that hearing, Dowding has now cleared the overgrown gardens and removed dilapidated structures in the rear garden as required.

Residents affected by an empty property that is causing problems are encouraged to report it to the council’s empty homes officer on 01454 865565, emailing psechousing@southglos.gov.uk or visiting www.southglos.gov.uk/emptyhomes

Empty home owners who are undecided what to do with their property can also contact the officer.

The West of England empty homes service No Use Empty West has a dedicated website with further information: www.no-use-emptywest.co.uk