"Slumboat" owner fined over unlicensed mooring at Surrey beauty spot

Tom Rhima, of Ardrossan Gardens, Worcester Park, in Surrey, was charged with failing to register his boat or unmoor from the Thames near Hampton Court Palace.

He pleaded guilty to both charges at Staines Magistrates’ Court on June 4, the Environment Agency said.

Boats over overstaying their welcome on that stretch of river has become a long-running issue with some residents referring to them as “slum boats”, and councillors calling them “unsightly low grade temporary accommodation”.

Rhima’s boat was spotted in West Molesey by waterway enforcement officers who established its annual registration fees had not been paid and the people on board were not the owners.

On two occasions, Environment Agency officers were accompanied by Surrey Fire and Rescue – who served prohibition notices due to safety concerns, and taped off the gangway.

When officers were finally able to track down Rhima, at his Worcester Park home, he claimed to have only visited his boat once, when handing over money to buy it in 2022.

He also claimed to have no knowledge of anyone on board or of the enforcement notices, the Environment Agency said.

In court, Rhima claimed the previous owner told him the boat came with mooring rights and was registered – it had neither.

Environment Agency officers continued to visit Rhima’s home but, they said, he made no attempt to register the boat, move it, or contact the Environment Agency – as directed.

Colin Chiverton, an environment manager at the Environment Agency, said: “Anyone who uses the River Thames for boating should expect to contribute towards the upkeep of the river, and we will always seek to recover unpaid boat registration fees.

“The defendant had ample opportunity to pay, but unfortunately we were left with no choice but to take the matter to court.”

Rhima was fined £50 for the registration offence and £50 for the byelaw offence, with a victim surcharge of £40.

He was also ordered to pay £1,893.60 compensation to the Environment Agency – equal to the annual boat registration fee that should have been paid.