A man has been fined £17,500 for renting his land out for Stansted Airport related parking.

David Murnane was charged with failure to comply with an enforcement notice, issued by Uttlesford District Council (UDC) on February 10, 2014.

This took effect on March 14, 2014 and required him to cease the use of his agricultural land at Fuller’s End for airport related parking by April 15, 2014.

Mr Murnane rented the field adjacent to his property to two companies, Car Storage Ltd and Stansted Car Storage Ltd, receiving £600 per month from them.

Up to 150 vehicles had been stored in the field at various times.

Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court convicted Mr Murnane of failing to comply with the enforcement notice on April 20, 2015. He was sentenced on June 4.

The magistrates based the value of the fine on Mr Murnane’s declaration regarding the income he had received, and reminded him that the payments are priority debts.

In addition to the fine, Mr Murnane was ordered to pay costs of £2,842.85 and a victim surcharge of £120.

Derek Jones, lead member for enforcement at UDC, said: “It is pleasing to see that inappropriate activity of this sort will not go unpunished. It will serve to renew the warning to others who may try and flaunt the law, that the council will take action.”

Mr Murnane has appealed the decision to the Crown Court.