City council claims scrap metal prosecution first

Salford City Council is claiming to have become the first local authority to bring a successful prosecution under the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013.

Anthony Luck, 59, and his partner Leigh Mullen, 33, of Walker Road, Winton pleaded guilty at Salford and Manchester Magistrates’ Court last week to four offences under the Act.

The defendants admitted carrying on as a scrap metal dealer not authorised by a licence, receiving scrap metal without verifying details of the person weighing in the metal, paying cash for scrap metal and failure to maintain records of the receipt and disposal of metal.

Luck’s company ANT Autos Ltd at Lyntown Trading Estate was fined £1,100 and ordered to pay £1,000 costs. Luck himself was fined £1,200 and ordered to pay £1,000 costs, while Mullen was fined £550 and ordered to pay £500 costs.

Salford said Luck had tried to claim to officers he was running a car repair garage and not an illegal scrapyard. However, he did so in a yard full of dismantled cars while standing close to signs saying 'Wanted, scrap cars and vans, best prices paid'.

The court was told that handmade advertising signs were also seen on fences, roundabouts and motorway embankments around Eccles stating 'Wanted Scrap Cars & Vans Best Prices Paid Min £125' with a mobile number to call.

After Luck ignored a closure notice, the council applied to the courts for a closure order. This was granted and served in January 2015. Trading has now stopped from the Eccles site, the council said.

Speaking after the case, Cllr Gena Merrett, assistant mayor for housing and environment, said: "Mr Luck was well aware he should have applied for a licence but chose to ignore the law and carry on trading. His claim of being just a repair garage with advertising signs and evidence all around that he was actually a scrap metal dealer was simply ridiculous and he has finally faced the consequences of his actions."