David Hallett was prosecuted by Adur District Council for allowing his garden in George V Avenue, Lancing, to become untidy and overgrown.

Despite him failing to turn up at Worthing Magistrates' Court last week, magistrates found him guilty in his absence for failing to comply with a notice telling him to clear his front and back gardens of brambles, weeds and overgrown vegetation.

He was fined £100, ordered to pay costs of £100 and £15 towards victim support organisations.

The court heard that Hallett's neighbours had made several complaints to the council about the state of the gardens, claiming that his brambles were coming through their fences.

The council made attempts to contact Hallett and encourage him to tidy up his garden, but in 2005 took matters into its own hands and did the job for him before charging him for the work.

Councils have the power to require private landowners to clean up land when its condition adversely affects the amenity of the area. It also has the power to take direct action to clear the land itself and charge the cost of the work to the landowner.

James Appleton, Adur council's executive head of planning, regeneration and wellbeing, said: "The council's decision to prosecute is very much a matter of last resort, but given the background to this case it was the only realistic option to ensure compliance with the notice.

"This action demonstrates the council's commitment to protect the amenities of local residents and improve the appearance of the district."

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