Legal News
£1,500 penalty for van owner who sold van with rubbish inside that was later fly-tipped (20 April 2017)
Date: 20/04/2017
Buckinghamshire County Council has prosecuted a Berkshire resident who sold his van to a new owner, who then fly-tipped waste left in the van by Johnson in Iver, Buckinghamshire.
Wayne Johnson, 31, of Common Road, Langley in Berkshire appeared at High Wycombe Magistrates’ Court and pleaded guilty to failing in his duty of care as a householder.
The court heard that an enforcement officer from Buckinghamshire County Council found a pile of waste dumped illegally in Holly Bush Lane, Iver, on 9 August 2016.
Evidence found among the fly-tipped waste led officers to interview Johnson at a local police station.
The court was told that Johnson sold his old Ford Transit van in July 2016 and the back of the van was full of his waste when it changed hands.
He made no arrangements for the separate disposal of the rubbish and failed to carry out any checks on the person buying the van.
The rubbish left in the van was then dumped illegally in Holly Bush Lane.
Giving Johnson credit for an early plea, magistrates fined him £405 and ordered him to pay prosecution costs of £1,092.50 and a victim surcharge of £40 – a total of £1,537.50.
The case was prosecuted by Buckinghamshire County Council working on behalf of the Waste Partnership for Buckinghamshire.
The Waste Partnership launched the “Illegal Dumping Costs” campaign in November 2003, to combat illegal dumping and waste management offences in Buckinghamshire.
Since that date, the partnership has secured nearly 600 convictions against individuals and companies for illegal dumping and related offences. On average since April 2010, there has been at least one conviction per week for illegal dumping offences in Buckinghamshire, said the council.
The council said that this had resulted in a significant reduction in the number of offences and a saving to the Buckinghamshire taxpayer over the period – principally through reducing removal and disposal costs.
Duncan Lewis Criminal Solicitors – Environmental Offences
Duncan Lewis Criminal Solicitors can advise companies and individuals at any stage of an environmental offence, including charges relating to polluting watercourses, fisheries offences, fly tipping, waste carrier offences, failing to manage hazardous waste, air pollution, noise pollution, or misuse of permitted land.
There are Duncan Lewis offices across England and Wales and in most major cities – and a Duncan Lewis criminal defence solicitor can advise at the start of an investigation by the Environment Agency or local authority and before charges are brought.
For expert legal advice on all environmental offences, call Duncan Lewis criminal solicitors on 0333 772 0409.