From Birdman to Mr Universe, Hartlepool Borough Council’s Controversial Court Cases: A Pattern of Enforcement or Overreach?

HBC Exposed delves into some of the controversial court cases Hartlepool Borough Councils been in, or is still actively involved in to ask the question, is this really a local council looking out for the peoples interests, or just another corrupt establishment flexing its muscles ?

2nd April 2025

Hartlepool Borough Council has made headlines time and again for taking individuals and businesses to court in cases that have sparked lively debate, divided opinions, and even left some residents questioning: Is this enforcement really necessary, or is it bureaucracy gone too far?

From lockdown rebels to accessibility disputes, some of Hartlepool Borough Councils legal actions have raised eyebrows and stirred controversy. Here’s a deep dive into some of the most talked-about cases—and what they might mean for our town...

Eddie Ellwood: The Gym Owner Who Defied Lockdown

Champion Bodybuilder & Three Times Mr Universe Winner Eddie Ellwood has himself faced Hartlepool Borough Councils legal action for alleged 'lockdown breaches'...

In early 2021, as England languished under strict Tier 4 COVID-19 restrictions, Eddie Ellwood—former Mr. Universe and owner of Xtreme Fitness gym—decided enough was enough.

With gyms shuttered nationwide, he kept his doors open, only ever for what he maintains to this day was a “peaceful protest” against rules brought in by the government that he believed harmed mental health. Ellwood’s stance wasn’t just talk: he actually lost a gym member to suicide and seen another sectioned, tragedies he linked to lockdown isolation.

HBC didn’t see it that way. After issuing a prohibition notice and closure direction, they caught him allowing what they claimed to have been 'non-essential entry' on February 2 and 7, 2021. Four charges followed, and in April 2022, Teesside 'Kangaroo'’ Court found him guilty. District Judge Marie Mallon dismissed his protest defence as a “sham,” fining him £30,000 and slapping on £25,507 in legal costs. His 2023 appeal failed, with judges acknowledging his intentions but upholding the “risk of illness and death” his actions posed.

Total bill? Over £55,000.

Supporters rallied outside court, hailing Ellwood as a mental health hero in a town with high COVID rates but also high despair. Critics, including HBC, saw Ellwood as a reckless lawbreaker. Ellwood responded by calling it a “travesty of justice,”...

NOVA Salon: A Ramp, a Nail Bar, and a Legal Fight

Hartlepool Labour MP Jonathan Brash, who has branded the court cases against the town businessowner as "Bureaucracy gone mad"

Not content with taking on a former Mr Universe, or a wildlife lover for that matter....and HBC’s legal sights have already landed on Hartlepool's NOVA Salon, a new business breathing life into Church Street.

Owner Sara Razzaq transformed a vacant shop, opening in April with six employees and a buzz that earned her a young entrepreneur award nod, ironically that nomination coming from Hartlepool Borough Council itself. But trouble was set to brew over a disability access ramp.

The original, bulky fixed ramp was said to have been swapped for a smaller, more mobile one to make room for a nail bar. No customers complained, but Killjoy Council Officers demanded the old ramp be put back, citing accessibility rules, and took the building’s landlord to court—a move that’s left the business in limbo.

As of October 2024, the case was unresolved, with no updates by April 2, 2025. Hartlepool MP Jonathan Brash slammed the councils decision to take the landlord to court as “bureaucracy gone mad,” arguing the mobile ramp worked fine and the council’s pursuit was “totally disproportionate.”

Sara, stressed and fighting to protect her dream, has considerable public support—but HBC’s lips are sealed pending the outcome.

Is this about protecting the vulnerable, or punishing a thriving start-up over a technicality?

Brian Wilkins: The ‘Bird Man’ and His £2,000 Fine

Finally, there’s Brian Wilkins, a 77-year-old pensioner dubbed Hartlepool’s “bird man.”

In 2023, HBC issued him a Community Protection Notice (CPN) for feeding pigeons and other wildlife, claiming it attracted rats and ruined neighbours' quality of life.

Caught on video scattering bread and seed in 2024, Wilkins faced Teesside 'Kangaroo' Court.

His defence? He couldn’t bear to see animals starve.

The verdict: guilty, with Wilkins unrepresented in court by any solicitor lumped with £2,176.73 bill for council costs and a fine.

Wilkins sighed outside court, “Common sense has not prevailed,” but reportedly stated that he agreed to stop.

Hartlepool Borough Council called it a “last resort” after informal warnings failed. Yet the image of a pensioner fined thousands of pounds for feeding birds struck a chord with many locals—compassion versus control, with locals split on who was right. A minor nuisance, or a major overreaction?

A Patterns Beginning to Emerge—But What Does It Mean?

The number of cases being brought by councils is leading to claims the justice system is being 'weaponised' to punish the poorest or those fighting a genuine cause

These cases—Eddie Ellwood, NOVA Salon, Brian Wilkins, & a number of others—paint a picture of a local council seemingly unafraid to flex its legal muscle. Whether it’s lockdown breaches, accessibility rules, wildlife feeding, or counterfeit sales, the council’s approach is clear: enforce first, negotiate later. But at what cost?

Public Backlash most certainly, as each case has drawn defenders. Protesters for Ellwood, an MP for NOVA, sympathisers for Wilkins all suggest that whilst Hartlepool Borough Council may be winning the legal battles, its also increasingly alienating local residents, whilst then complaining about council officers supposedly receiving backlash or even abuse for their efforts to prosecute people against what's seemingly the public interest...

The Community Impact is also said to be stark, From mental health to new businesses, these actions ripple through Hartlepool, a town already battling economic and social challenges. HBC defends its stance as supposedly protecting public health, safety, and standards. Yet the controversy of these cases continues to linger on: Is Hartlepool Borough Council really safeguarding our community, or overstepping into personal lives and livelihoods of the everyday individual ?

What’s Next?

What's worrying is that amongst all the legal cases pursued by Hartlepool Borough Council against ordinary members of the public, legal action against some of its officers for their criminal acts has unpunished & continue to do so to this very day....

There's scores of reports to show that whilst HBC seemingly has an impeccably high track record in winning court cases they put before a visibly 'biased' hearing venue, the council itself isn't as squeaky clean as many would think, with numerous allegations of officer misconduct, false statements given to court officers & even contempt of court allegations, however these cases rarely ever see the inside of a court room as you would imagine.

The elected Mayors of Hartlepool, Stockton & Middlesbrough, all pictured together with Teesside Court Judges, one of which was moved to another Court shortly after it being taken when complaints were raised !

With NOVA Salon’s case still open and new disputes—such as planning rows over bars or housing—always cropping up, HBC’s courtroom streak shows no signs of slowing & is never likely to when you see council elected members cosying up to court room judges like in the picture you see before you here!

Have you faced Hartlpeool Borough Councils legal wrath, or seen a case that hit home?

Drop your thoughts below— For now, one thing’s certain: when HBC goes to court, it’s rarely quiet.

And rarely loses !