Legal News

Bolton Council has prosecuted a fly-tipper who was caught on CCTV dumping a sofa behind a company car park in broad daylight.

Arpad Kovacs was prosecuted by Bolton Council after the council received video footage and information from the manager of Medico UK Ltd Hulton councillor, Darren Whitehead.

In October 2016, security footage from Medico UK Ltd’s CCTV caught two people leaving a sofa on waste ground behind the company’s car park.

The footage provided to the council by Cllr Whitehead clearly showed the van’s registration details – and the council’s enforcement team traced the vehicle to Kovacs, who admitted the offence.

At Bolton Magistrates’ Court, Kovacs was handed a £400 fine, with costs of £200 and victim surcharge of £40.

Bolton Council’s Executive Cabinet Member for Environmental Services, Cllr Nick Peel, said:

“Fly-tipping is antisocial and shows a complete disregard for local people.

“It usually consists of large items of furniture or bulky waste and is nothing to do with slim bins or lack of access to a recycling centre – it is simply due to laziness and irresponsible behaviour.

“In this case, the fly-tipper dumped the waste in broad daylight, simply because he could not be bothered to take it to the local recycling centre.

“Bolton residents should be in no doubt that the council will always aim to prosecute those guilty of enviro-crimes like fly-tipping – and we are pleased that the court has fined him.

“I would encourage all residents to report fly-tips to the council and any other information that will help us identify the culprits.”

The council also took two other Bolton residents to court for fly-tipping waste as part of its continued crack down on antisocial and inconsiderate fly-tipping.

Yanosne Petrovics was found guilty in his absence of dumping back street waste and was fined £440, with costs of £681.27 and a £44 victim surcharge.

Tunde Lakatos pleaded guilty to dumping back street waste and was fined £120, with £200 in costs and a £30 victim surcharge.

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.