County Durham man ordered to pay nearly £5,000 for fly-tipping offences

Waste dumped on Harperley Lane was traced back to Brown's business.

We prosecuted Joshua Richard Brown of Gray Terrace, Stanley, after our neighbourhood wardens found the fly-tipped waste.

Waste dumped on Harperley Lane

Magistrates in Peterlee heard that our investigation uncovered the 25-year-old's involvement after one of our neighbourhood wardens found household waste in Harperley Lane.

Whilst attending the site, the warden was approached by a man and a woman who advised that their waste was amongst that which had been dumped, but that they had paid what they believed to be a legitimate company to remove the rubbish for them.

The pair, who run a shop, had been made aware of the incident on Facebook and been alarmed to receive negative comments on social media from people who believed them to be the culprits.

CCTV footage showed man with facial tattoo

The shopkeepers were able to provide the warden with CCTV footage showing a man, who had a distinctive facial tattoo, collecting the waste from their premises, and give details of the company they had paid to remove the rubbish, JC Rubbish Removals.

Further waste discovered at Stony Heap also included items which showed the shopkeepers' address.

The neighbourhood warden later recognised Brown, the man from the CCTV footage, as he was leaving an address in Catchgate. She returned to the address later and served Brown with a Section 108 Notice asking him to attend an interview. Checks also revealed that a J Brown Recycling was advertising from the property.

Brown attended the interview and stated that he was the owner of the business and that he took full responsibility for both fly-tips. He admitted that he was aware that his two employees intended to fly-tip the waste for him while he remained at home. He accepted that he had collected the waste from the shop but that he did not have any official paperwork relating to the collection and disposal of controlled waste.

Fine and costs of nearly £5,000

Brown pleaded not guilty to fly-tipping and did not attend court when the case was listed.

He was found guilty in his absence. Magistrates fined him £2,640 and ordered him to pay costs of £1,130.70 and a £1,056 victim surcharge, totalling £4,826.70.

Brown was also issued with a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) for five years which requires him to produce a valid Waste Carriers Licence and to complete and retain waste transfer/tipping notes relating to all commercial controlled waste transferred. The order also prohibits him from transferring waste from residential or commercial premises except where the waste is being carried in accordance with an appropriate licence.

If the CBO is breached, Brown will face further punishment, as decided by the courts.

'We hope the sentence will deter others'

Ian Hoult, our neighbourhood protection manager, said: "We are determined to prevent fly-tipping in County Durham and hope that the substantial costs and Community Behaviour Order issued in this case will deter others who might consider dumping waste illegally.

"With so many ways to dispose of waste responsibly, there is no excuse for fly-tipping. We hope this incident highlights anyone involved will be held accountable, even if they do not personally dispose of the rubbish.

"Engaging the services of dishonest waste carriers can also have poor consequences for people and in this case caused distress and reputational damage to those who paid to have their rubbish removed. I would encourage anyone who has waste to dispose of to check that they are employing a reputable company."