The owner of a derelict Stafford building targeted by vandals and arsonists has been ordered to pay more than £55,000 after failing to comply with a council order to board up broken windows.

Broken glass from Greyfriars House was found outside the property's boundaries, magistrates heard, and the condition of the building sparked several complaints to Stafford Borough Council.

Greyfriars House at Greyfriars – one of the gateway roads to the town centre – was previously the location of Stafford JobCentre.

But the building was vacated by the Department for Work and Pensions several years ago – and its deteriorating condition has led to residents branding it an "eyesore".

In recent years police and firefighters have been called out to Greyfriars House on many occasions to deal with issues including trespassers and fires.

Planning applications have been submitted to Stafford Borough Council to convert the building into flats, but they were refused permission.

In January 2025 Stafford Borough Council issued an enforcement notice to property owner Eaglemount Ltd, based in London.

Magistrates at North Staffordshire Justice Centre heard on Monday (September 28) that the order had included four requirements – but just two were found to have been carried out.

The notice ordered the removal of broken windows, boarding up of broken windows, an external door to be secured and hoarding around the building to prevent trespassers gaining access.

It had a compliance deadline of April 20 2025.

On May 1 2025 the council received a letter to say that contractors were being appointed for the site, but the notice had not been received.

Four months later, in September, the authority warned of potential prosecution and urged the owner to take action to comply with the notice, but no response was received, the court heard.

A member of the council's planning enforcement team carried out a site visit at Greyfriars House in January this year.

The court was told he had found the outer perimeter of the site secured up to 6ft, with no obvious breaches in security fencing, but there were a number of broken windows.

Lucy Taylor-Grime, prosecuting on behalf of Stafford Borough Council, said the order had been made following "numerous complaints due to the condition of the property", which came from members of the public, police, cllrs and even the area's MP.

She added: "The council had been inundated to the point we had the Chief Executive involved, because of the level of complaints and from a safeguarding point of view.

"This was formerly a JobCentre, an office being used until the Department for Work and Pensions vacated it.

"People were accessing the property and the fire brigade and police were in attendance on regular occasions.

"Broken glass had spread outside the hoarding area.

"The Section 215 Notice required the proper maintenance of the land by its owners.

"Unfortunately the notice wasn't complied with in its entirety."

A company representative was present at North Staffordshire Justice Centre, but they were unable to make representation during the case due to a disability.

There was no legal representation present on behalf of the property owner.

Magistrate Philip Taylor said: "We find (two conditions) of the notice have, on merit, been complied with.

"We do however find that (the other two) conditions have not."

Eaglemount Ltd was given a £1,000 fine and ordered to pay an extra £100 per day for each day since April 20 2025 – 527 calendar days in total, adding up to £52,700.

It was also ordered to pay £2,000 council legal costs and a £400 victim surcharge.