Car enthusiast fined nearly £2,000 for flagrant stunt on Great Yarmouth seafront

Eugen Andrei, aged 28, was filmed in St Nicholas car park on the evening of Sunday, August 16, breaching a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) which aims to tackle vehicle-related anti-social behaviour on and near the seafront.

Police stopped the vehicle and referred the case to the borough council, the relevant enforcement authority for PSPOs. Due to the flagrant and serious nature of the breach, the council opted for prosecution. Fixed penalty notices of £80 are issued for smaller breaches.

At Norwich Magistrates' Court recently, Andrei, formerly of Anson Road, Great Yarmouth, pleaded guilty to breaching the PSPO. Magistrates ordered he pay the maximum fine of £1,000, reduced to £600 for the guilty plea, plus costs of £1,201 and a £80 victim surcharge.

Magistrates stopped short of using their discretionary powers to remove Andrei's licence, owing to his work as a delivery driver, but warned they would if he appeared in court for a second breach of the PSPO.  

Cllr Penny Carpenter, chairman of the council's environment committee, said: "This PSPO helps to tackle the anti-social behaviour of a minority of car enthusiasts and their passengers, who act in a way that is completely unacceptable, inconsiderate and often dangerous to themselves and others.

"I am all too aware of the impact these actions have on residents, visitors and businesses. This flagrant breach happened in front of police CCTV on an August evening, during the height of the school holidays, when there were other cars and other people around the car park and wider seafront. The seriousness of the breach is underscored by the maximum fine being ordered by magistrates.

"On top of the 24 fixed penalty notices we've handed out for breaches of this PSPO since June 2020, this prosecution sends a strong message that it's actively enforced in partnership with police, bringing serious financial consequences and the risk of losing your licence for those who break the rules."

Sergeant Dan Smith, from the Great Yarmouth Operational Policing Team, said: "We fully support the council in enforcing this legislation and hope it acts as a deterrent to anyone partaking in this activity. Whilst we encourage members of the public to enjoy our beautiful seafront and tourist area, anti-social driving of any sort will not be tolerated and where the supporting evidence exists we will always look to prosecute offenders. 

"Officers in the local Safer Neighbourhood Team, Response Policing, Special Constabulary and Roads Policing will continue to regularly patrol these areas in order to minimise the impact incidents of this nature have on the local community."