Vegan woman, 73, who refused to deal with mouse infestation at her home because the vermin were ‘her pets’ and ‘wouldn’t go to her neighbours because she looked after them’ is fined £1,500

  • Tendring District Council fined Margaret Manzoni from St Osyth (Essex).
  • This month, hearings took place at Colchester Magistrates’ Court 
  • Manzoni was informed that the negative impact on neighbors meant that inaction was inappropriate
  • Court awarded council costs of £2,395 and imposed a victim surcharge of £150 

A vegan who failed to deal with a mouse infestation at her mid-terrace home because the rodents were ‘her pets’ has been fined £1,500 by a court.

Tendring District Council stated that Margaret Manzoni (73), of St Osyth, Essex believed the mice would not travel to her neighbor’s homes because she cared for them.

Following a violation of an April previous order, the authorities prosecuted her for the second time.

Manzoni, at a Colchester Magistrates Court hearing, was informed that although the court respected her belief as an ethical vegan and others considered mice vermin.

According to the authorities, court declared that the “impact of the infestation upon neighbours” meant inaction wasn’t appropriate.

A vegan who failed to deal with a mouse infestation at her mid-terrace home in St Osyth, Essex, claiming that taking action would go against her ethical beliefs, has been fined by a court. Above: A mouse is pictured in a neighbour's home

A court fined a vegan who ignored a pest infestation of mice in her St Osyth home’s mid-terrace. She claimed that she was against her moral beliefs and failed to take action. Above: This is an image of a mouse in the home of a neighbor.

Tendring District Council said 73-year-old Margaret Manzoni 'considered the mice her pets' and 'said they would not go to her neighbours because she looked after them'. Above: The vegan's home (centre)

Tendring District Council reported that Margaret Manzoni (73), considered the mice to be her pets. She also said she would take care of them if they went to other people. Above: (centre) The home of the vegan.

Manzoni pleaded guilty to the charges of not complying with an Environmental Protection Act notice and the Prevention of Damage by Pests Act notice at the October 6 hearing.

Along with the £1,500 fine, the court awarded the council costs of £2,395 and imposed a victim surcharge of £150.

Manzoni was a person and the setting of fine magistrates included that. Clearance work will also have to be paid.

A court was informed that neighbouring residents were concerned about the conditions of Manzoni’s midterrace home and had called the council’s Environmental Health Team.

The authority prosecuted the pensioner for a second time after she did not comply with a previous order made in April. Above: The mouse in a neighbour's boot

Following a violation of an April previous order, the authority brought her before the court. Above: A mouse found in the boot of a neighbor.

At a hearing at Colchester Magistrates' Court this month, Manzoni was told that while the court 'respected her beliefs as an ethical vegan, others saw mice as vermin', the council said. Above: One of the mice in a neighbour's house

Manzoni, at a Colchester Magistrates’ Court hearing, was informed that although the court respected her ethical vegan beliefs, other people saw mice this way. Above: The mouse that was found in a neighbor’s house.

Staff from the Council visited Manzoni several times to offer assistance, before issuing notices to Manzoni ‘ordering Manzoni stop feeding birds, to remove the overgrown gardens, and calling in pest control’.

Tendring District Council spokesmen said, “While the council carried out some building work, Manzoni provided food and shelter to the mice, leading to an unpleasant stench that forced neighbors to flee.”

Manzoni was offered alternative housing by the Tendring District Council, but she refused, stating that they were her pets and would not leave her.

Manzoni admitted at the hearing on October 6 to charges of failing to comply with a notice under the Environmental Protection Act and a notice under the Prevention of Damage by Pests Act. Above: A dead mouse is seen on the floor of the home

Manzoni pleaded guilty to the charges of not complying with an Environmental Protection Act notice and the Prevention of Damage by Pests Act notice. Above: The floor is covered with a dead mouse

“This resulted in the first prosecution. Since then, despite continual visits from the environmental health team, nothing has changed. The council was forced to file a second case.

Tendring District Council’s cabinet member for the environment Michael Talbot said that the prosecution was “a last resort” but that the owner of the property had not responded despite numerous visits, offers to help, legal notices and previous court actions.

He said, “We respect the personal beliefs of people and what they do in their own homes. But when it has an adverse impact on other people then we must take all necessary measures to protect everyone’s well-being.”

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