A Dagenham woman who piled fridges, freezers, washing machines and cookers in her rear garden has been fined £400.

Abimbola Otefisan, of Wheel Farm Drive, was taken to court after repeatedly ignoring warnings to clear up her garden which was deemed a threat to public health.

She was prosecuted for failing to act after receiving an abatement notice in August which ordered her to clear the rubbish by September 18.

Officers visited the property on September 20 and 27 and noticed the rubbish was still there, amounting to two breaches of the notice.

Otefisan pleaded guilty when she appeared at Romford Magistrates’ Court last Friday and was sentenced to a conditional discharge for 12 months and ordered to pay a £400 fine and £15 victim’s surcharge.

Magistrates took into consideration her previous good character and the fact that she eventually cleared the garden.

Cllr Jeanne Alexander, Cabinet Member for Crime, Justice and Communities, said: “This case proves that we have both the will and the powers to tackle eyesore gardens in Barking and Dagenham. People should not have to live next door to rubbish tips and our officers are on hand to deal with offenders.

“We do not take the decision to prosecute lightly and we always give people plenty of opportunity to carry out works and clear up their gardens. However, if a notice is issued and then ignored we are left with little option but to take the case to court.

“I hope this case will act as a warning to others that eyesore gardens are not welcome anywhere in Barking and Dagenham.”