Gross ‘rat-ridden waste mountain’ horrifies locals as mattresses and old tyres are piled high with dad and son fined £2k

A VILE “rat-ridden waste mountain” made the lives of locals “hell” with mattresses, old tyres and even a disused caravan plaguing the street. Paul Shillingford and his son Aaron have been ordered to fork out almost £2,000 after they failed to clear up the horrific heap of waste piled up outside their home in Dudley, West Midlands. Dudley CouncilThe ‘rat-ridden waste mountain’ outside a father and son’s home in Lye, Dudley[/caption] Dudley CouncilPaul and Aaron Shillingford have been ordered to pay almost £2,000[/caption] The rat-infested mound – which included wood and discarded building materials – lead to a barrage of complaints being made to Dudley Council as the waste overwhelmed the property’s driveway and back garden in Star Street, Lye. Paul Shillingford, 49, was told to clear up the mess at the semi-detached bungalow he was renting but was hauled into court with his 30-year-old son after they failed to do so within an agreed timescale. Following the prosecution, they were each fined £450, both ordered to pay £400 costs and also a £32 victim surcharge each Paul and Aaron have been given 28 days to pay the total sum of £1,764 or face further action which could include imprisonment. The court heard Dudley Council received initial complaints about the property in February last year, with residents saying they had seen rats running around in the waste and into neighbouring homes. Other objections were received as council enforcement officers investigated, and in August last year a notice was served – giving the men 21 days to clear the site of rubbish. Most read in The Sun 'BIGGER COMEBACK THAN RONALDO' Piers Morgan joins The Sun as columnist & talkTV show host BEST ON THE BOX Where former Gogglebox families are now - from tragic death to prison say yes yes yes to the dress Woman’s VERY graphic dress review goes viral TRAVEL DELAYS Green list updates DELAYED as ministers set to announce travel overhaul PANDORA'S BOX I used to work in Pandora, these are the secrets they don’t want you to know LOST LEGENDS FIVE Gogglebox stars have left show ahead of new series after tragic deaths Follow-up visits revealed the rubbish was still there in January this year, and a district judge allowed the men an extension to the start of April to get it cleared. But the court was shown pictures taken by the council on a visit on April 23, which showed rubbish still all over the site. The pair were charged with failing to comply with a notice under the Prevention of Damage by Pests Act 1949. Both denied the offence but they were found guilty by the district judge after a trial last Friday. Councillor Karen Shakespeare, cabinet member for public realm, said: “I wholeheartedly welcome the decision of the court and the district judge in this case. ‘UNSIGHTLY MESS’ “I have seen the pictures taken by officers and I can only imagine what it must have been like to live so close to such an unsightly mess. “These two men created a rat-ridden waste mountain outside their home which must have made life hell for everyone living around them. “They were given every opportunity to tidy it up and failed to comply with extended deadlines. “It should act as a strong warning to people that in cases like this we will take the strongest action available to us to protect our residents. “These two men now have a large amount of money to find in a short space of time to avoid further punishment.” The waste has now been cleared from the site, where Aaron also has a waste collection business registered, the court was told. Dudley CouncilThe waste has now finally be cleared[/caption] The pair denied the offence but were found guilty We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun news desk? Email us at exclusive@the-sun.co.uk or call 02077824104. You can WhatsApp us on 07423 720 250. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours Click here to get The Sun newspaper delivered for FREE for the next six weeks.