Published: Friday, 24th November 2017

The man, who ignored 11 warnings to turn down his music, was fined £4,400 following a successful prosecution by the Royal Borough of Greenwich.

Eduard-Alexandru Banu of Bostall Lane, Abbey Wood also had his stereo equipment seized by the Council's environmental health officers due to persistent noise nuisance.

The prosecution for breach of a noise abatement notice followed months of evidence gathering by officers from the Council's Noise Team. Mr Banu's long suffering neighbours kept a diary of the times he blasted out his music throughout the day and up until midnight.

Mr Banu who failed to appear at Bexley Magistrates' Court on 30 October was found guilty of six charges relating to excessive noise in breach of a noise abatement notice. He was ordered to pay £200 for each offence, pay the council's costs of £1263.44 and to forfeit his stereo equipment which was seized by the noise team in July. Mr Banu was given 28 days to pay the fine which amounts to £4,400.

Complaints on the volume of the music played by Mr Banu at his privately rented home were first made to the Council in April. Mr Banu was served a noise abatement notice under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and in the following months officers from the Noise Team visited his home 11 times to give verbal and written warnings which he ignored.

'The Council will take action against selfish people'

Councillor Jackie Smith, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Environment, said: "This successful prosecution sends out a strong message that the Council will take action against selfish people who persistently disturb their neighbours by playing loud music or by creating any other noise disturbance.

"This is a substantial fine and serves to warn people not to breach noise abatement notices as a criminal prosecution can lead to unlimited fines on conviction.

"I would like to congratulate the officers and long suffering neighbours for their hard work to gather evidence which ensured such a good result. We encourage any residents experiencing noise nuisance to get in touch with our Noise Team."