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Slideshow: Oakwood 'house of rubbish' man faces £38,000 clean up bill
An Oakwood man who filled his house with enough bin bags of rubbish and old newspapers to fill 17 skips has been hit with a £38,000 clean up bill - and £40,000 legal costs.
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Anthony Cockerham, of Hetton Road, was told by Leeds County Court to pay Leeds City Council's costs for clearing out the rubbish from his house and dealing with the rat infestation, which began the whole process in the first place.
The total bill includes 38,000 clean up costs, along with potentially more than 40,000 in legal costs, incurred during the court battle to get Mr Cockerham to pay.
The money, on which interest will be accrued, will be paid by levying a charge on Mr Cockerham's house so that when it is sold proceeds from the sale will pay off the amount owed.
Recorder Mark Bury heard that Mr Cockerham had been obstructive "every single minute of every single day", refusing entry to his property on multiple occasions and trying to prevent the clearance work taking place.
But Mr Bury publicly acknowledged that the council and its contractors had "at all times acted patiently, sympathetically and professionally" in the case.
In June 2005, Mr Cockerham's neighbour complained of a rat infestation they suspected was coming from the adjoining property. Environmental health officials issued a statutory notice instructing the Cockerhams to ensure their premises were pest free.
Councillor Steve Smith, Leeds City Council's executive board member for environmental services, said: "You may say an Englishman's home is his castle, but when public health is at stake we have to take measures to protect people. The simple fact is that the conditions in this house threatened the health of its occupants and those living nearby.
"With the court awarding the council costs, we have also made sure the process of clearing the house and then the long battle to get Mr Cockerham to pay will not leave the council taxpayers of Leeds out of pocket.
"As the Recorder has affirmed, at all times our staff acted professionally and sympathetically; but there comes a point when we must take firm action to protect the public."
FOR THE FULL STORY SEE SATURDAY'S YORKSHIRE EVENING POST.
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