Fly-tipper fined £4k for dumping rubbish across several sites

A fly-tipper has been ordered to pay out a total of almost £4,000 for dumping piles of rubbish across South London.

The Environment Agency prosecuted Martin Ward, who was fined £2,400 and ordered to pay £1,500 costs and a £48 victims’ surcharge at Lavender Hill Magistrates’ Court.

Mr Ward, 52, of Newry, County Down, Northern Ireland pleaded guilty to knowingly causing waste to be unlawfully deposited on land off Herringham Way in Charlton, Telcon Way in Greenwich, Pensbury Place in Lambeth and at Bianca Road in Peckham.

Between October 2019 and December 2019, a Ford transit tipper, linked to Mr Ward, was used to illegally deposit mixed waste.

Through footage taken by members of the public and CCTV footage, Mr Ward’s vehicle was spotted illegally depositing the waste at Herringham Way, Telcon Way, Pensbury Place and Bianca Road.

The case is part of a series of prosecutions resulting from the Environment Agency’s major investigation into waste crime in London, Operation Angola. The Environment Agency is targeting waste criminals who break into empty sites and illegally fill them with waste.

Matt Higginson, environment manager for the Environment Agency, said: “This prosecution along with others sends out a strong message that we will search out and prosecute anyone found to be dumping waste illegally.

“Illegally depositing waste at sites without regard for the environment and the law has the potential to harm our natural resources, blight communities and undermine the legitimate businesses that follow the rules.

“Our role is to protect the environment for people and wildlife, so we won’t hesitate to take action against those who put it risk. And to anyone flouting the rules, our message is clear: you won’t get away with it.

“We encourage everyone to check that their waste collector is registered as a waste carrier – if your waste ends up illegally dumped you may be liable”