Wolverhampton council seizes sound system of 50-year-old man
A man who played loud music at his home despite being served with a noise abatement notice has had his sound system confiscated.
Keith Browni was heard playing music loudly at his Wolverhampton home by officers from the city council.
They had gone to his house in Parkfields Grove, Parkfields, to investigate following complaints about his nuisance music.
Browni, aged 50, had been given a noise abatement notice on March 20 this year, Wolverhampton Magistrates Court was told.
This meant noise should not be heard coming from his home between 10.30pm and 7am, or outside the confines of the building.
Mr Kevin Roberts, prosecuting on behalf of Wolverhampton City Council, said that officers went to Browni's home and served him with a noise abatement notice.
He told the court: "On March 20 of this year, Mr Browni was served with a noise abatement notice.
"This meant that no noise was was to be heard within the confines of the premises between 10.30pm and 7am without reasonable excuse.
"This is also meant that no noise could cause annoyance outside of the cofines of the building at anytime.
"On March 23 officers attended Mr Browni's home and were 10 metres from his property and could hear music coming from inside.
"The council applied for a warrant on March 31 to access his property and the next day, on April 1, they seized his sound production system.
"He was not at home at the time."
Browni was sentenced by the court in his absence and was fined £200 for failing to comply with a noise abatement notice.
He also must pay £60 in costs and a £20 victim surcharge.
Mr Roberts successfully applied for Browni's sound system to be forfeited meaning that the council has the powers to destroy it within six months.
