Unlicensed scrap metal trader found guilty in court

A man from London who was running a business as a scrap metal dealer in Canterbury district when not authorised to do so has been found guilty of the offence.

Varsile Marius Nicutu, 33, from Leonard Robins Park, London, was also found guilty of not holding a valid waste carrier licence to transport controlled waste on the highway.

Mr Nicutu failed to attend Margate Magistrates’ Court on Thursday 12 June and was convicted in his absence for offences Under Section 1 of the Scrap Metal Dealers and Section 5 of the Control of Pollution Act 1989.

The court heard Mr Nicutu was stopped in Shipman Avenue, Canterbury, in May 2024 by officers from Kent Police Rural Task Force and Environmental Crime Officers from Canterbury City Council whilst driving his vehicle full of scrap metal.

He was advised of the need to apply for a licence to transport scrap, but he failed to do so and no response was received from him.

The council took the matter to court, where Mr Nicutu was fined £1,000, with a £200 surcharge and £200 in council costs, adding up to a total fine of £1,400 to be paid in full within 28 days.

This was a third success in court that day, following another similar case and a flytipping case.

Published: 20 June 2025