Serial fly-tipper hit with £1,500 fine by Dacorum Borough Council

A man has been ordered to pay out over £1,500 after he was prosecuted by Dacorum Borough Council for fly-tipping on a country road near Pepperstock.

William Witney, of Halfmoon Lane, Luton, was sentenced at St Alban's Magistrates Court on July 22 in a case prosecuted by Dacorum Borough Council.

Council workers were clearing fly-tipped waste in Pepsal End Lane near Pepperstock on December 30, last year when they found correspondence, with details leading to Witney.

After an investigation by the environmental enforcement team, the council brought a prosecution against Witney for the offence.

The deposit had to be cleared at the council’s expense.

In court, he pleaded guilty and was handed a fine of £533 alongside council costs of £1000 and a victim surcharge of £53.

He was also ordered to pay the council’s costs of £1000 and a victim surcharge of £53.

Due to his repeat offending, he was also handed a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) for 2 years.

Witney was also prosecuted by the council in February this year for a similar offence after being caught on a council surveillance camera.

A CBO is an order designed to tackle the most serious and persistent anti-social individuals whose behaviour has brought them before a criminal court and breaching the conditions of the order can lead to imprisonment, an unlimited fine or to both.

Cllr Alan Anderson, Portfolio Holder for Environmental Services, said: “This conviction shows how seriously this crime is now considered, and the sentence imposed on Mr Witney sends out a clear message to others not to commit fly-tipping offences.

"Dacorum is a beautiful place to live, and we will continue to work hard to keep it this way. Dumping rubbish isn't tolerated under any circumstances, and we will use evidence to prosecute.

"We need people to understand that their waste is their responsibility. Anyone offering to take it away has to be registered to carry waste, or it could end up fly-tipped, and you could be prosecuted for failing to take reasonable steps to prevent it. If you see fly-tipping, please report it via our online reporting tool by visiting www.dacorum.gov.uk/flytipping.”

Dacorum Borough Council is part of The Hertfordshire Fly Tipping Group (HFTG).

This is a multi-agency taskforce including the borough, district and county councils as well as Hertfordshire Constabulary, Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, Herts Fire and Rescue, the Environment Agency and the National Farmers' Union.