Fly-tipper handed suspended jail for dumping rubble in hedge
A FLY-TIPPER who dumped rubble from a Christchurch garden into a hedge has been handed a suspended prison sentence.
Dominic Woods (33), who owned and operated a business called RightWey Man and Van Services, was also made the subject of a five-year criminal behaviour order and told to pay £215 costs.
Weymouth Magistrates’ Court heard Woods was given permission by the landowner to leave concrete paving slabs, tarmac and other construction waste at a site in Coldharbour, near Weymouth. However, the site does not have a waste disposal permit.
In June 2019, together with another male, he undertook garden clearance at the Christchurch home for £150. The home-owner gave Woods a Duty of Care Waste Transfer Note – an official form which hands over responsibility for the waste.
The pair returned to complete more work at the home a few days later and were paid another £150. On that occasion no note was issued.
Dorset Waste Partnership launched an investigation after one of its enforcement officers received a tip-off about a video on social media showing Woods, in control of a tipper vehicle, dumping a large amount of construction waste in the Coldharbour area.
Following a visit to the site in July, enforcement officers met the landowner who said he had given permission to RightWey Man and Van Services to deposit waste on his land.
He said the only restriction he had given was the waste must not rot. There had been no payment for the deposit of waste, nor any paperwork issued. He also confirmed he had no environmental permit or waste exemption in place.
During the investigation the vehicle used in the offences was seized by enforcement officers. Despite issuing a notice of return for the vehicle, it was not claimed and has been disposed of.
Cllr Tony Alford, Dorset County Council’s cabinet member for customer, community and regulatory services, said: “Fly-tipping is a blight on our community and a drain on taxpayers’ money, so we take a firm stance when it happens. We will always pursue all avenues to hold offenders to account.
“Residents should report fly-tips to us, only use reputable businesses or individuals if they need help moving their rubbish and get a waste transfer note when handing items to someone else to dispose of.
“They risk prosecution and a criminal record if their waste is fly-tipped and they are unable to show they took reasonable steps to prevent it.”
The criminal behaviour order (CBO) for Woods means that for five years he cannot be involved in any business which collects, transports, deposits, stores or processes controlled waste from any residential, commercial or business premises of which he is not the owner or occupier.
It is the first time Dorset Council has sought a CBO for waste crime.
Brought into law ostensibly as a replacement for ASBOs, CBOs are intended to prohibit offenders from continuing with behaviour that causes or is likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to any person.
More information on Dorset Council’s campaign against fly-tipping is available at www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/tip-off.
