A builder fined after finally admitting he flouted planning laws in a dispute with his neighbours dating back to the 1980s is to appeal his sentence.

Brian Gage, of Dale View Avenue, was described by a judge as a “thorough nuisance” as he fined him £500 for ignoring an enforcement notice issued in 2009 by Waltham Forest Council.

The 56-year-old was ordered to pay a further £1,000 in costs and was told he could no longer use the set of garages on his land as a home for his daughter by Judge Lewis at Thames Magistrates Court in November last year.

But the Guardian has discovered he has set a date to appeal his sentence at Snaresbrook Crown Court on March 13.

Gordon Wilkinson, a member of Dale View Residents Association, who claims he and fellow members have spent thousands of pounds trying to bring Mr Gage to justice for 25 years, said he was surprised by the turn of events.

He added: “It’s ridiculous. We would’ve liked to see him told to demolish the garages so in our opinion he got off quite lightly.

“To launch an appeal and waste public money is not really on.”

The DVRA pushed for action against Gage for years but it was not until 2012 that the council prosecuted the builder for using the garages as a dwelling.

Gage appealed to the Planning Inspectorate over the order but it was upheld as his evidence was deemed unreliable.