Sadly, it is rare that there is sufficient evidence to attempt legal action against fly-tippers but Central Bedfordshire council do actively pursue prosecution when there is a chance to build a case.
Mr Danny O'Sullivan (aged 32, from Houghton Regis) and Mr Thomas Richmond (aged 28, from Dunstable) appeared in Luton Magistrates Court this week in relation to a fly-tip in Beech Road, Kensworth on 19-Jan-14 and a second incident in Hockliffe on 09-Nov-14. Note the time between the two offences; they had already been interviewed concerning the first offence when they committed the second and so clearly had no qualms about their actions.
The waste in the first tipping offence originated from renovation works at a flat in Luton. Messrs O'Sullivan and Richmond collected a fee of £100 for disposal of the rubbish before dumping it in the Bedfordshire countryside to be cleared at taxpayers' expense.
In connection with the second offence, the defendants disputed that they had tipped the tree branches in question but then admitted that they were there to fly-tip a different load before finding the branches in their way! Thankfully they were challenged by two eye-witnesses at the site.
Mr O'Sullivan was fined £1,000 plus victim surcharge, contribution towards compensation and full prosecution costs, Mr Richmond was fined £730 plus all the other items.
Totally meaningless. They will look on the fine as as a simple business expense. The odd fine is still cheaper than paying for official disposal. We need to start significantly increasing fines or even jail.
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