FORMER neighbours of a woman who they say blighted their businesses and their lives last night welcomed her prosecution.

But they insisted action must now be taken to prevent other people from dumping items in a yard which became a hub of anti-social activity.

In May 2017, a major fire tore through more than a hundred old fridges and other electrical items hoarded in Darlington’s tiny Shutts Yard, filling the skies with acrid smoke as firefighters battled for hours to control the flames.

The residential yard had been the subject of a multi-agency investigation for months prior to the fire.

Those living and working close to the hazardous site had begged the authorities to intervene, reporting regular fire-setting, drugs use and persistent anti-social behaviour that continued even after the potentially deadly blaze.

In October last year, the tenants of the property associated with the yard were finally evicted and one has now been prosecuted.

Tina Lumley – now of Victoria Road, Darlington – was ordered to pay more than £1,300 in fines and costs at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates Court on Wednesday, April 4.

She was found guilty in her absence of breaching a Community Protection Notice and of failing to answer questions, a Section 110 offence.

The 45-year-old was fined £440 for each offence (£880 in total) and ordered to pay £397.50 costs and a £44 victim surcharge.

Last night, Eleanor Richmond of Bed SOS said she hoped it would act as a deterrent, adding: “It’s probably the tax payer who’ll end up paying it but it does seem like a sufficient fine. We rarely see anti-social behaviour round here now, aside from fly-tippers.”

John Wilson, landlord of the Slaters Arms, urged preventative action, adding: “The fines never go to the people affected – our business and our property has been damaged but the money won’t come to those who have been punished.

“All of this should have been sorted months and months ago.”

Magistrates in Newton Aycliffe heard that an environmental health officer had first visited the yard following complaints in August 2016 and became concerned about the number of items stored there.

Officers returned just days later, in response to a fire being set there. When they arrived, Lumley denied them access and was handed a warning notice ordering her to clear the yard.

She was served with a Community Protection Notice in September 2016 when officers returned to find she had not complied with the warning.

Officers visited again in October to find the yard still dangerously full but, despite regular complaints from neighbours and business owners, it remained in a hazardous state until long after the blaze broke out several months later.

A Darlington Borough Council spokeswoman said that the authority had worked closely with other agencies between October and May while continuing investigations.

More visits to the yard were made in June and September 2017, with officers noting that it was still packed with junk including white goods and electrical items. They also discovered freezers, some containing evidence linked to Lumley, dumped in the adjoining lane.

Lumley failed to respond to attempts to engage with her, ignoring hand-delivered letters asking her to attend an interview.

Ward councillor Cyndi Hughes joined Cllr Chris McEwan in welcoming the prosecution with both saying they hoped it would deter further anti-social behaviour.

Cllr McEwan said: “This case sends a clear message that environmental crimes such as this, which put the health and safety of other local residents at risk, will not be tolerated and we will take enforcement action where necessary.

“The vast majority of people living in Darlington are responsible, but cases such as this cases show that we will catch and punish those who persist in this anti-social behaviour.”